Chapter 27 "A black turtleneck is a man's most......"
"It's hilarious! Our mother-in-law looks so quiet and reserved, but I never expected her to be such a devoted cat lover. Her eyes light up whenever she talks about kittens!"
After leaving Tanghua Garden, Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi gossiped all the way.
"It turns out she loved cats since she was little, but her family wouldn't let her keep them because they thought they shed too much fur. After she grew up and married into the Marquis's household as his second wife, no one cared about her anymore."
Pei Xian had little affection for this stepmother of humble origins. It was purely because Princess Qinghe had died young, and the large Marquis's mansion could not be without a mistress to manage it, and his eldest son also needed a mother.
The couple had their son, Pei Jinghuai, the year after they got married. From then on, Pei Xian rarely stayed overnight at the main courtyard.
Meng Wanyin was happy to see this happen. She lived alone in Tanghua Garden, had no worries about food or drink, and was quite wealthy.
Then she started raising cats, and kept raising cats, the adult cats had kittens...
Just now, Meng Wanyin was proudly showing off to Shen Lingyue that there was a special "Cat House" on the east side of Tanghua Garden. The entire courtyard was for cats to live in, and it had more than a dozen different colors of cats that could be found in Daye, with long hair, short hair, blue eyes, yellow eyes, and all kinds.
She even considered using Pei Xian's connections to contact a fleet of ships heading to sea and ask them to bring back a green-eyed, long-haired cat from overseas.
Meng Wanyin's eyes shone with longing: "I heard that cat has long, white fur and sits there so delicately, like a little princess."
However, the fleet would often take two or three years to return from a voyage, spending most of its time at sea. The loss rate of crew members was also very high, and if they encountered a storm at sea, their chances of survival were slim.
Meng Wanyin couldn't bear to see such a delicate little cat suffer on the boat, so she could only dream about it.
Shen Lingyue laughed with her hands on her hips, "She also said that next time I go alone, she will take me to the cat farm to pet as much as I want."
Wow, my mother-in-law is so lucky! She has money, a son but no husband, and she can enjoy petting cats every day. What a winner in life!
Yan Yi listened with a smile, then thought for a moment and said, "I didn't notice it on the day of the tea ceremony."
Otherwise, she would have been sneezing uncontrollably.
Shen Lingyue laughed even harder and explained to her, "I just asked her too, and she said she finally found a new dress without any lint on it and locked it in the closet so the cat wouldn't touch it. On the morning of the tea ceremony, she first combed her hair and got dressed, then quickly put on the dress and went out..."
Yan Yi imagined the scene and burst out laughing.
The two were chatting and laughing as they walked back when suddenly someone came from the opposite direction.
"Oh, you two are quite affectionate."
Pei Yuzhen's shrewd gaze swept over the two of them, and she said with a half-smile, "I heard that my two nieces-in-law used to compete with each other when they were young. How come they've changed their ways after getting married?"
Shen Lingyue tightened her grip on Yan Yi's arm, "What you're saying, Aunt, is so unreasonable. We were just young and ignorant before, and that's why we bickered over trivial things like rouge and hair ornaments. Now that we're family, we should naturally love each other—does Aunt really want to see us arguing every day and causing unrest in the Marquis's mansion?"
She was certain that Pei Yuzhen wouldn't dare reveal her scheming intentions, otherwise, if they reached Pei Xian's ears, how could she face her own brother who had kindly taken her in for ten years?
Pei Yuzhen's expression changed slightly. "Of course that's not what I meant."
She stared at Shen Lingyue, her brows furrowing slightly: Has this naive girl forgotten all of her words?
“Niece-in-law, you’re still young. Your aunt is worried about you. You’re being tricked into being sold off and you’re still helping them count the money.”
Pei Yuzhen was unwilling to give up and tried to secretly poach him.
She didn't believe that the two of them could really be loving and affectionate sisters-in-law.
The two brothers were not born of the same mother, and there was a noble title hanging over them, which meant the future ownership of the Marquis's mansion, countless powers and assets... Who could not be tempted?
"There's no need for you to worry about that, little sister."
Shen Lingyue smiled and said, "My sister-in-law is beautiful and talented, well-educated, good at managing the household, and generous. When she becomes the wife of the heir apparent, she will only treat me better."
As she spoke, she rested her head on Yan Yi's shoulder, almost like she was being affectionate, "Sister-in-law, don't you agree?"
Yan Yi caught a glimpse of Pei Yuzhen's pale face out of the corner of her eye, and tried hard to suppress her laughter, nodding seriously.
"Hehe, I knew my sister-in-law was the best to me!"
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi left in a lovey-dovey manner, leaving Pei Yuzhen standing there.
She was so angry she was practically fuming. In a fit of rage, she grabbed a handful of roadside flowers, scattering buds and leaves all over the ground, and then stomped on them several times.
"……ah!"
She must have stepped on something round and chubby, because it burst open, spraying green juice all over her face, and a few drops seemed to have gotten into her eyes.
An indescribable burning sensation quickly swept across my face, leaving it swollen and numb.
"Ahhh, my face! My eyes!"
Pei Yuzhen covered her face and screamed in panic. She finally managed to open her eyelids, which were swollen to the size of walnuts, and struggled to figure out what flowers she had picked.
Oleander?!
Pei Yuzhen screamed and stumbled as she ran.
"Mother, Mother, save me! Quickly, get me a doctor, I'm going blind—"
...
Yan Yi had no idea that Pei Yuzhen had poisoned herself after the two left.
Shen Lingyue escorted her to the entrance of Jiusi Academy, just as Pei Jingyi "happened" to come out of his study.
Then I immediately noticed Yan Yi's red eyes and nose.
He frowned, quickened his pace, and stepped forward. "You've been crying?"
His dark eyes narrowed slightly, and his tone grew colder, "Did you suffer any injustice at Tanghua Garden?"
"No, no, brother, you've misunderstood."
Shen Lingyue quickly explained, "With me here, how could I let my sister-in-law suffer any injustice?"
Pei Jingyi's fierce aura subsided, and he looked at Yan Yi with confusion, "What's going on?"
Yan Yi rubbed her nose and said in a low voice, embarrassed, "It's because I'm not used to cat fur... I sneezed several times in my mother's yard."
Shen Lingyue nodded: "Yes, yes, just like some people get rashes on their face as soon as they come into contact with pollen. My sister-in-law is the type who can't stand cats; she starts sneezing as soon as she touches a cat's fur."
Pei Jingyi nodded, his expression softening slightly.
"I see. There was a maid in Tanghua Garden who was the same way. She would get itchy all over if she touched a cat. Later, Madam transferred her to another courtyard."
He looked somewhat regretful. "Then you should go there less often in the future."
It's a pity, he was worried that she would be bored staying at home alone, so she could go to Tanghua Garden to play with the cats when she had nothing to do.
Yan Yi shook her head, "It's alright, Mother promised to teach me how to manage a household and will even prepare a clean room for me."
A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed in Pei Jingyi's eyes.
They've only been married a few days, and the wife is already relinquishing control of the household?
He glanced at Shen Lingyue as if it were a casual glance, "Is your sister-in-law coming along too?"
Shen Lingyue shook her head, refusing three times in a row, "I don't want to, I won't, I won't."
She pushed Yan Yi toward Pei Jingyi and said with a smile, "From now on, this family will be managed by my elder brother and sister-in-law. My husband and I will just be two lazy bums who eat and drink for free. I hope my elder brother won't mind us."
She had already made up her mind when Pei Jinghuai confronted her last night.
He didn't want to compete with his elder brother for the title, and she certainly didn't want to compete with Yan Yi for the power to manage the household.
Some things are better said sooner rather than later. She and Pei Jinghuai can just lie down comfortably and live off their parents and then their brother and sister-in-law.
Perfect!
"...That's an exaggeration."
Pei Jingyi couldn't help but chuckle, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "Don't worry, sister-in-law, the family won't let you go hungry or thirsty."
"Okay, big brother keeps his word, right? I'll head back now, see you tomorrow!"
Shen Lingyue waved to the two of them and walked away full of energy.
Pei Jingyi gazed at her carefree figure, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
He turned his head and asked Yan Yi in a low voice, "How much of what she said just now do you think was true, and how much was false?"
Has Shen Lingyue really given up all her efforts to win the right to manage the Marquis's household?
The power within the inner quarters is something every woman covets.
Even Pei Yuzhen, the youngest sister-in-law who lived in the Marquis's mansion, had been eager to join her grandmother in managing the household in her younger years.
Of course, Grandmother only got a word in before Father snapped back at her.
“...What kind of sister manages the household for her brother and sister-in-law? If she feels uncomfortable living in the Marquis's mansion, then I will pay for a house for her so that she and her two daughters can live separately.”
Pei Yuzhen naturally refused. It wasn't that she didn't have the money to buy a house, but living alone outside would make her just the widow of a seventh-rank county magistrate.
But if she stayed in the Marquis's residence, she would be the Marquis of Changning's own sister. The connections she could make and the occasions she could attend would be completely different.
The matter of the steward was thus dropped.
Having learned from this experience, Pei Jingyi found it hard to believe that Shen Lingyue would give up so easily.
However, Yan Yi's expression suddenly turned cold when she heard his question.
What do you mean by that?
She frowned, her reddened eyes seeming to question with a hint of anger: "She said she doesn't care about the family, so she doesn't want to. There's no need for her to lie."
Pei Jingyi met her cold gaze and was momentarily speechless. He opened his mouth, "I didn't mean anything by it..."
"You have."
Yan Yi rarely used his true energy, and his whole body seemed to enter a state of alert, like a cat with its fur standing on end in preparation for battle.
"Why do you all think that she and I will fight to the death? You don't understand. Some things are much more important than titles, stewards, and empty honors."
Today, Little Moon insisted on putting the power of housekeeping into her hands.
If one day she wants to take over again, Yan Yi will hand it over to her without hesitation.
They've always been together, so these little things won't ruin their years-long relationship.
Pei Jingyi sighed softly and took half a step back.
"Madam, please calm down. I misspoke and shouldn't have doubted the... affection between you."
He found the word strange even when he said it.
But when she recalled how Shen Lingyue had stayed by Yan Yi's bedside that day, everything seemed to make sense.
He sincerely apologized to Yan Yi.
Yan Yi belatedly realized that she had been a bit agitated just now, and had even yelled at Pei Jingyi.
She lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.
"...Husband, please go ahead with your work. I'll go back to my room now."
After saying that, he fled into the house as if he were escaping.
Pei Jingyi stood there in a daze for a while, then called over Si Xiang, the head maid in charge of the courtyard.
"Go and find out if anything else happened when Madam and Second Young Madam returned from Tanghua Garden."
He always felt that Yan Yi's anger wasn't directed at him alone.
Pei Jingyi wanted to know who he was taking the blame for.
...
As night fell, Yan Yi spread out her pillows and blankets, preparing to go to bed.
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
She went to open the door, surprised. "Husband, is there...something wrong?"
Pei Jingyi stood outside the door, holding a pillow in his arms.
His eyes were clear. "Madam, may I come in and speak with you?"
"...Of course, this is your room."
Yan Yi opened the door and invited him in.
Pei Jingyi walked in and stopped by the round table, looking hesitant, as if he didn't know how to start the conversation.
Yan Yi had just snapped at him during the day, and the two hadn't seen each other all afternoon. Now that he suddenly came over late at night, she couldn't help but feel a little awkward.
Clearing her throat, Yan Yi spoke first: "Husband, is there something troubling you? Why don't you tell me, and I'll try to think of a solution for you."
"There is indeed a difficult matter."
Pei Jingyi accepted the offer, frowning slightly as if he were troubled.
"Madam may not know this, but we've only been sleeping in separate rooms for two days, and the whole mansion has already heard about it."
He looked up at her apologetically: "Although I said I would handle this, I did underestimate the power of rumors... After all, this is my first time getting married, and I don't have much experience. I hope you can understand, my wife?"
Yan Yi nodded.
That's certainly true. Despite the vast size of the Changning Marquis's mansion, it was filled with numerous servants who had married and had children there over the years, creating a complex web of relationships and connections.
Neither she nor Pei Jingyi were the type to be good at disciplining and managing servants. Besides, there were only a few masters in the mansion, and any slight disturbance would be talked about and spread far and wide.
Sleeping in separate rooms just a few days after getting married is undoubtedly shocking to others.
Yan Yi instinctively took two steps forward and asked him worriedly, "Did someone tell you something? Or do your parents know?"
Pei Jingyi shook his head.
"Not yet. But the truth will come out eventually, it's only a matter of time."
He sighed as if blaming himself, "Actually, it's nothing to me. I'll be going back to the Ministry of War in a couple of days. No matter what rumors are circulating in the mansion, they won't dare to reach me."
Pei Jingyi looked at Yan Yi with concern: "I'm just worried about you—aren't you supposed to learn how to manage the household with Madam? How can a wife who has just entered the house and is neglected by her husband gain the trust of the servants?"
Yan Yi lowered her eyes and pondered.
Just like those popular palace dramas that Little Moon often told her about, the concubines fought to the death, but was it really all for the sake of winning the emperor's love?
No.
What they were fighting for was less the emperor's favor and more the benefits and power that came with that favor.
Only the most favored concubines received the finest fabrics, the best jewelry, the most ice in the summer, and plenty of charcoal in the winter.
Similarly, if she wanted to seize control of the household from Meng Wanyin and make the servants obey her orders, she would inevitably need her husband's support.
Only in this way will those deeply entrenched servants who consider themselves senior and of high status not look down on her or deceive her.
Yan Yi looked up at him. "So what do you plan to do?"
Whether she and Pei Jingyi are truly husband and wife or not, at least for now they are a community of interests on the surface.
"I think I still need to move back."
Pei Jingyi observed Yan Yi's expression and added, "I'll just sleep on the couch so I won't disturb you."
Yan Yi glanced at the daybed placed by the window, which looked about two sizes smaller than a proper bed.
"Wouldn't this be too unfair to you?" she asked politely, as was her habit.
Pei Jingyi shook his head: "In urgent situations, we should act expediently and not compromise our principles."
Seeing that Yan Yi did not object, he put the pillow on the pillow and lay down on it.
"I'll sleep here. You can go and rest. Don't worry about me."
Yan Yi looked at his pitiful state, where his two long legs had nowhere to go and could only be curled up in a ball, paused for a moment, and then turned and went into the inner room.
The bedroom was separated from the outside by a beaded curtain. Yan Yi came out of the partition room to wash up and sat on the edge of the bed. She could still vaguely see Pei Jingyi's back as he curled up on the couch.
Looking at it this way, the bed is not only short, but also narrow. He can't even turn over on it; if he does, he'll fall off.
Yan Yi crawled into the covers and lay down, forcing herself to close her eyes.
But Pei Jingyi's image kept popping into her mind.
There was no peace and quiet either—I seemed to hear some rustling sounds, and the creaking of the wooden frame under pressure.
Was he moving his arms and legs on the tatami mat, or did he want to turn over but was afraid of disturbing himself?
The quieter the room, the clearer those faint sounds became.
After an unknown amount of time, Yan Yi could no longer bear it and pulled back the covers.
She got out of bed, went to the bedside, and gently pushed Pei Jingyi's shoulder twice.
He seemed to be asleep, and after a while he groggily opened his eyes. "What, did I wake you up?"
Yan Yi pursed her lips, "Why don't you go to bed and sleep?"
Pei Jingyi sat up, rubbing his eyes, "No, it'll disturb you..."
Yan Yi said frankly, "It's even noisier if you sleep here."
Pei Jingyi was taken aback for a moment, then lowered his eyes and showed a guilty expression. "I'm sorry, I've been trying my best to control myself and not move around."
"It's not your problem, it's mine..."
Just like the problem she didn't have time to finish before bed, the more she wanted to sleep, the more she worried about it, and she had to get up and stay up all night to finish it before she could feel at ease.
Yan Yi didn't know how to explain her awkward feelings, so she could only say, "Anyway, you should go to bed. I have some calming medicine prescribed by the doctor, so you won't be easily woken up once you're asleep."
Anyway, the bed is big and stable enough that Pei Jingyi won't make much noise even if he turns over.
"Okay, whatever you say."
Pei Jingyi readily accepted the suggestion, picked up the pillow, and followed her into the inner room.
...
The fifth day after the wedding.
Last night, after much persuasion from Shen Lingyue, she finally agreed that she didn't have to walk the dog anymore.
She's going out of town to learn horseback riding today, so she needs to conserve her energy.
She got up early in the morning and had Qingchan comb her hair and choose clothes for her, busy in front of the mirror.
Pei Jinghuai also got up very early, whining and pestering Shen Lingyue for a long time, but after being ruthlessly rejected by Shen Lingyue, he went to the front yard to practice his skills.
Pei Jinghuai: Has a good sense of self-management.
He vented his anger on the wooden figures and targets in the training ground. When he returned, he saw Shen Lingyue wearing a sky-blue dress, looking delicate and beautiful.
She twirled around in front of him. "Does it look good?"
Pei Jinghuai's response was to cup her face and give her a big kiss.
Shen Lingyue was so angry that she jumped up and down, "Aaaaaah, I just put on my makeup!"
Pei Jinghuai had already run into the shower stall with a smile.
When he came out, he said to Shen Lingyue, "I'm going to wear blue today too."
As he spoke, he opened the wardrobe and began rummaging through it.
“No way!” Shen Lingyue immediately objected.
Pei Jinghuai stood beside the cabinet door and looked over. "Why not?"
He wanted to wear the same color as her so that when they went out, people would immediately know they were a couple.
Shen Lingyue's eyes darted around as she walked to the wardrobe and carefully selected a set of black round-necked robes with subtle patterns, then held it up against him.
"Wear this outfit, it looks good."
Shen Lingyue diligently unfolded her sleeves and put the clothes on him, busily helping him put them on and showering him with praise.
"My husband, you look especially handsome in this. Look at these shoulders, so straight and upright! Look at this waist, so slender! And this chest, these legs..."
She praised him from head to toe, so much so that Pei Jinghuai couldn't believe it. "Is he really that good-looking?"
If he remembered correctly, this outfit was made last year. He thought the floral pattern on it was too old-fashioned and hadn't worn it much.
"Clothes are not important, people are."
Shen Lingyue said confidently, "Have you ever heard a saying?"
"What?"
"A black turtleneck is the most...appropriate clothing for a man!"
Pei Jinghuai: ...
Meeting Shen Lingyue's squinting eyes, he seemed to immediately understand which "that" was.
"Cough cough."
Pei Jinghuai blushed and said, "Then I'll listen to you."
Anyway, my mother said that once a man is married, his wardrobe is managed by his wife.
After breakfast, the two went to the front yard. Ping An came over to report: "The riding gear and protective gear have been loaded onto the carriage. Yesterday, the eldest young master also asked Shu Mo to go to the stable to select two docile mares. They have been checked and are ready to set off with the carriage."
Pei Jinghuai hummed in agreement and muttered under his breath, "He's certainly thought things through."
Although he had made up his mind not to compete for the title, Pei Jinghuai still had the habit of teasing him from time to time to vent his anger.
Shen Lingyue urged him, "Hurry up, hurry up, don't keep your elder brother and sister-in-law waiting for us."
When the two arrived at the gate, Pei Jinghuai grabbed Shen Lingyue's wrist, his face darkening.
"...You won't let me wear blue, is that why?"
He pointed to Yan Yi, who was not far away, dressed in a light blue dress, which was a perfect match for her Tian Shui Bi dress.
Shen Lingyue gave a guilty laugh, "Oh dear, I already made plans with my sister-in-law yesterday to dress up nicely and go horseback riding together... What would it look like if you suddenly joined in?"
She tugged at Pei Jinghuai's belt and said coquettishly, "Besides, I didn't lie to you. Our Xiaozhou brother looks so handsome in black!"
Pei Jinghuai was half angry and half amused, but he quickly held it back and deliberately put on a stern face. "Then you have to make it up to me."
Shen Lingyue bumped her head against his chest: "...Replenish, replenish, replenish!"
That's too much of a sacrifice. What's wrong with her wanting to wear matching outfits with Yan Yan?!
The two agreed on the time and number of times for compensation before heading over.
Pei Jinghuai tried to ignore the glaring blue of Yan Yi's clothes and shook it at Pei Jingyi, "My wife picked this out for me, what do you think? Did your sister-in-law help you choose clothes?"
Pei Jingyi remained unfazed: "I could dress myself when I was three years old, without anyone having to worry about me."
Pei Jinghuai scoffed.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi boarded the carriage, while the two Pei brothers rode alongside on horseback.
The roads in the capital were in good condition today, with no traffic jams. The group left the city smoothly and, after walking for another half an hour, arrived at the estate of the Marquis of Changning.
The head of the village received the news yesterday and brought his whole family out to greet them.
"Greetings, gentlemen and ladies! I wish you a happy marriage and many children!"
Pei Jinghuai waved his hand, "Stop arguing. We're here to ride horses on the hillside behind. You all go about your business."
The head of the farm readily agreed, and then said that at noon, he would slaughter chickens and fish to entertain the four masters.
Upon reaching the hillside, Pei Jingyi had the two chestnut horses brought over.
Shen Lingyue nudged Yan Yi: "You choose first."
Yan Yi didn't hesitate and took two steps closer to examine him carefully.
The two chestnut horses looked to be of similar size and were both very docile, their dark, round eyes watching her quietly.
The horse on the left suddenly came over and touched her hand with its nose.
Yan Yi smiled, "This one will do."
He took the initiative to show her affection, and there was a small tuft of white hair on his forehead.
Like a small crescent moon.
...
Shen Lingyue chose the horse on the right.
Pei Jinghuai pulled her to a clearing in the distance, then turned back and asked Pei Jingyi in a loud voice, "Can you teach my sister-in-law?"
It's not that he looks down on people, but Pei Jingyi is on duty every day, unlike him who often has the opportunity to ride out of the city for a drive.
My sister-in-law looks so delicate and frail, I hope she doesn't fall or get hurt again.
Pei Jingyi pretended not to hear and said gently to Yan Yi, "Let's go over there. I'll teach you how to get to know it first."
The four people temporarily split into two groups, each teaching their own subject.
Pei Jinghuai, still preoccupied with the matter of clothing, helped Shen Lingyue onto the horse, muttering, "What's the point of wearing the same color clothes if you're not even together?"
I'd rather wear his clothes.
As soon as Shen Lingyue sat on the saddle, she was half a head taller than him. She looked down at him and snorted, "If you're going to teach, then teach quickly. Why all the nonsense?"
Pei Jinghuai chuckled, "Believe it or not, I'll make sure you can't get down from there?"
Shen Lingyue stared at him with a deathly gaze: "Believe it or not, I'll make you sleep on the floor tonight?"
"...Come on, first hold the reins tight, and I'll teach you how to use your legs."
Pei Jinghuai shamefully yielded. How could a matter between husband and wife be called fear? It's respect!
...
Shen Lingyue learned very quickly. She was bold and had good balance. She had watched many online horseback riding instruction videos before, but she just needed a chance to practice.
Pei Jinghuai only briefly explained some key points to her, and she quickly grasped them, able to independently control the chestnut horse to walk slowly.
On the other hand, Yan Yi's progress is not ideal.
Pei Jingyi supported her waist and helped her finally mount the horse. When she looked down at the dense wild grass on the ground, she felt dizzy uncontrollably.
"Madam, raise your head and look ahead."
Pei Jingyi noticed her slightly pale face and reminded her, "Don't stare at a point on the ground. Shift your gaze and imagine you're on an endless grassland, with the vastness of the sky and earth..."
Like a psychologist, he used a calm and unhurried voice to pull her out of her tense emotions.
After a while, Yan Yi finally relaxed her body and was able to feel a little bit of the freedom of riding a horse.
Although she can only sit there without moving right now.
But once you get to a high place, even the air seems fresher. The wind blows through the wisps of hair on her forehead, bringing the pleasant scent of grass.
Now is the best season of the year, with lush green grass everywhere and trees flourishing on the distant mountains. Countless tender green leaves sprout from the tips of the branches, creating a contrast of light and dark green with the old leaves, a scene that is equally refreshing and delightful.
She gazed at the clear blue sky and the lush green mountains in the distance, a faint smile unconsciously appearing on her lips.
Pei Jingyi looked up at her.
He knew that Yan Yi's birth mother was the daughter of a merchant in the north, and that she had died young, so she had to make a living under her stepmother's care since she was a child.
Before lifting the veil, he thought his wife would be a strong-willed, stubborn, and unyielding woman, fitting the world's image of an "eldest daughter who has lost her mother."
But in reality, she is not strong; in fact, she is somewhat frail and gentle, like a shallow, safe lake, without any turbulent waves, just flowing quietly on its own.
Until yesterday, his unintentional probing seemed to have touched a nerve, and she showed him her little claws.
It turns out she wasn't without personality; we just hadn't crossed her bottom line yet.
Sunlight shone on her upturned face, and Pei Jingyi squinted, trying to discern the true emotions hidden beneath that faint smile.
Was she having fun today? Does she prefer being outside like this to being at the Marquis's residence?
"Yan Yan!"
A clear call broke his thoughts. Pei Jingyi turned his head and saw Shen Lingyue already riding her horse at a trot towards them.
Her face was beaming with joy. "Look, I've learned to ride a horse!"
Yan Yi withdrew her gaze from the distance and smiled happily at her, "Yes, you learn very quickly."
Shen Lingyue proudly showed off, "Hehehe, I really am a gifted person."
Pei Jinghuai jogged up to catch up, his brows furrowed. "Who told you to run so fast? You're still not good at controlling the horse..."
Shen Lingyue bent down and hugged the horse's neck, rubbing against its smooth mane. "Our little red horse is so good, it won't let me fall, right?"
The horse, which had been given the name Little Red, snorted.
"How's your learning going?" Shen Lingyue asked Yan Yi. "I've been watching you guys over there for ages, why haven't you moved at all?"
Yan Yi pursed her lips. "I might be a little afraid of heights. I didn't dare to move as soon as I came up."
"It's okay, I'll do it!"
Shen Lingyue dismounted with Pei Jinghuai's help, then took the reins and looked up at her with a smile: "I'll take you, shall we take a slow ride around first?"
Before the two men could object, Yan Yi quickly nodded, "Okay."
The two watched helplessly as Shen Lingyue led Yan Yi's horse away.
Pei Jingyi glanced at him sideways, "Aren't you going to go and bring her back?"
Pei Jinghuai put his hands on his hips and said, "It's alright, she's already learned it. Besides, the horses in the manor are all docile; even a three-year-old child could sit on one of them without any problems."
Pei Jingyi: "...Do you even know what it means to teach your apprentice and then let the master starve?"
Pei Jinghuai looked at him in disbelief.
"With my abilities, do you think I could possibly let her surpass me?"
Pei Jingyi: ...I don't want to talk.
At noon, the group returned to the farm and enjoyed a traditional farmhouse stew cooked in an iron pot.
Shen Lingyue carefully dipped the cornbread into the soup and exclaimed, "Free-range chicken is so delicious."
Unlike those zombie chicken nuggets in the university cafeteria that have been dead for who knows how long, they've almost turned her into a mutated weasel.
After eating and drinking their fill, they went to the prepared side room for a nap.
In the afternoon, Shen Lingyue hadn't had enough of riding horses and wanted to go for another lap in the back.
A carriage sped along the official road. Ping An couldn't wait for it to stop, so he jumped off and tumbled and crawled into the village.
"Young master, something terrible has happened to you!"
Pei Jinghuai strode out, "Has something happened at the manor?"
"No, it's not our Marquis's residence..."
Ping An shook his head, his face displaying a complex expression that was a mixture of joy and strangeness.
"It's the Duke of Ling's mansion! Gu Lin, the heir of the Duke of Ling's mansion, he's back alive!"
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Author's Note: Honeymoon countdown in progress!
Let's start enjoying the gossip tomorrow!
P.S.: That one = sluttiest [doge][doge]
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