Chapter 174 My Path Is Not Alone
Pei Jingyi walked in silently and stopped three steps away from the bed.
He had spent a day at the Northern Garrison Command, and the stench emanating from him was foul and unpleasant; it was best to keep his distance from the sick.
He asked Pei Jinghuai, "How is your wound healing today?"
No reply means there's no further news.
The hope that had risen in Pei Jinghuai's eyes gradually faded. He turned his face away coldly, remaining silent as if in a fit of pique.
Damn it, if he weren't still injured and unable to exert his strength, he would have gone out of the city to find A-Yue long ago, instead of being stuck in bed like a cripple waiting for news!
“Huaizhou, I know you’re anxious, and I feel the same way. But those members of the royal family insist they haven’t seen Yan Yi and his wife, nor have they arranged a second wave of assassins at the ambush site on the hillside…”
Pei Jingyi forced himself to remain calm and methodically sorted through the interrogation results of the day, finally arriving at a difficult conclusion.
"Whether you believe it or not, whether you accept it or not, the fact is that the two of them disappeared from the closed carriage without any external force."
Pei Jinghuai's face was tense, and he gripped the blanket tightly with both hands.
"So what..." he heard his own hoarse, strained voice, "we can only wait here, waiting for God to have mercy and return them to us?"
Pei Jingyi stared at him intently, then suddenly changed the subject: "Actually, you should have realized it a long time ago, right?"
Pei Jinghuai's eyes flickered slightly, as if he subconsciously looked away for a moment. "Sensed about what?"
Pei Jingyi sighed. At this point, what was the point of Huai Zhou still trying to hide it from him?
“What I mean is, our wives… are not ordinary people.” He lowered his voice, his expression serious, his deep black eyes focused intently. “They are definitely not the Shen Lingyue and Zhou Yanyi of the past, are they?”
Pei Jinghuai lowered his head and remained silent. After a while, he stubbornly looked back at him again. "So what? I don't care what kind of goddess, demon, or monster she is. She's my wife, and I want to spend my whole life with her!"
His little butterfly, his moon—if heaven can hear the most sincere longing in his heart, please quickly return him to him!
"What a coincidence, we share the same sentiment," Pei Jingyi said calmly.
Three years ago, the imperial decree of marriage was delivered to the Marquis's residence. On the surface, he obediently agreed to the marriage, but in private, he had already sent people to thoroughly investigate the life and past of "Zhou Yanyi".
It would be a lie to say I wasn't disappointed.
Although he didn't have many expectations for romantic relationships, his ideal wife, the future mistress of the Marquis's mansion, didn't seem to be like this.
They are not a good match.
Therefore, Pei Jingyi made up his mind early on to only be a nominal husband and wife with "Zhou Yanyi", and made a three-point agreement with her on their wedding night, with a cold and distant attitude.
Unexpectedly, fate played a cruel joke on him. From the moment the veil was lifted and their eyes met, Pei Jingyi realized that something had quietly slipped out of his control.
...Who could have imagined that the intelligence we gathered would be flawed? Who could have imagined that his wife had a different soul?
Three years into their marriage, Pei Jingyi felt that he was becoming more and more infatuated with her each day than the day before.
While secretly observing her, he gradually succumbed to her charms, eventually abandoning his proud rationality and composure, and earnestly praying for a response of her love.
Just as he never questioned Yan Yi about the unfamiliar words that occasionally slipped out of her mouth, words that seemed out of place in this world, he also never told her about the nonsensical ramblings she had uttered.
He understood that she might have her own concerns. The tacit understanding between her and "Shen Lingyue" that no outsider could penetrate was because they were truly "the same kind".
Since she didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't ask.
Just as Huai Zhou said, whether she is a god or a monster, or a reincarnation, he has already decided on her. Pei Jingyi will only have her as his wife in this life.
“Huaizhou, calm down and listen to me.” Pei Jingyi gently patted his shoulder and said seriously, “The two of them are of extraordinary status. No news is perhaps the best news.”
Pei Jinghuai was unwilling to give up: "Then what else can we do? Just wait at home like this?"
"All we can do is wait, and wait." Pei Jingyi's fingertips twitched, as if he were using these words to comfort himself.
He said to Pei Jinghuai, "The only thing you can do now is take your medicine on time, get plenty of sleep, and heal your injuries. Otherwise, before your sister-in-law even returns, the manor will have to hold your funeral—are you willing to let her become a widow?"
"...Is that how you comfort someone?"
Pei Jinghuai exploded in anger, yelling, "Even if I die, I'll haunt her as a ghost—"
He abruptly stopped talking, staring at Pei Jingyi and chuckling maliciously.
"Thinking about it this way, you seem to be in a much worse situation than me."
He only lost one wife, but Pei Dalian lost both his wife and children, hahaha!
"He still has the leisure to think about these things. It seems he won't die anytime soon."
Pei Jingyi was too lazy to listen to his nonsense and turned to leave.
Back at Jiusi Academy, he looked up and gazed at the dark main courtyard.
No matter how late he came back, there was always a light waiting for him there.
Pei Jingyi, with a stern face, summoned Si Xiang: "The Marquis's mansion is not short of money for candles. Light up all the lights in every room, and do this every night from now on. Go now."
Si Xiang was still unaware of what had happened, but it was a fact that the Crown Prince's wife had not returned, and Pei Jingyi's low and intimidating aura was also genuine.
She agreed with a flustered expression, and soon led the other maids to light up the entire Jiusi Courtyard, making it brightly lit as day in the night.
Pei Jingyi's expression softened slightly, and he nodded in satisfaction.
That way, A-Tan won't get lost on her way home.
Hot water was already prepared in the bathroom. He submerged his entire body in the water, leaving only his eyes above the surface, staring intently at the gently rippling water. His mind, however, was uncontrollably recalling a legend he had once heard:
Do you want to see your loved ones in the other world?
Have you ever heard of the art of summoning spirits?
...
Xiao Yujing was decisive and efficient. The very next day, he had the Xianning Palace on the east side cleaned up and arranged for Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi to move in.
She also publicly claimed that the two were her long-lost nieces, and that their daily expenses were in accordance with the standards for a princess. Palace servants would address them as Princess Yan and Princess Yue.
When Shen Lingyue arrived at Xianning Palace, she was delighted to see the familiar architectural layout around her.
"Isn't this Consort Gao's palace?"
She knows this place well; she's been there quite a few times before.
She winked slyly at Yan Yi, "What do you think? If we had transmigrated into our hometown sister's place the first time, maybe she could have made us imperial concubines to help her better disguise our identities?"
Then, feigning a curtsy to Yan Yi, he said in a high-pitched voice, "Greetings to Consort Yan~"
"No need for formalities, Consort Yue." Yan Yi chuckled and played along with her exaggerated performance, then asked, "Isn't being a princess good? If you meet someone you like, you can even ask His Majesty to grant you a marriage."
Shen Lingyue's smile froze, and she remained silent for a moment before saying, "But I can't think of anything. Without Pei Jinghuai, could I possibly fall in love with someone else?"
Although she was initially attracted to his looks and physique, after more than three years of bickering and going through so many ups and downs together, their relationship had long since become more than just a superficial crush.
She wilted visibly, like a small plant deprived of water. She carefully wrapped her arms around Yan Yi's waist and asked in a low voice, "We can definitely go back, right?"
"We definitely can." Yan Yi patted her head, her tone firm. "Give me a little more time, and I'll definitely find a way."
"……good!"
Shen Lingyue raised her head, put two index fingers to the corners of her mouth, and stretched into a big smile. She then patted herself and said, "From now on, I'm not allowed to say anything discouraging! I'm not allowed to think about Pei Jinghuai anymore! I'm going to enjoy this wonderful trip to the fullest!"
Then she rushed into the palace like a little cannonball, touching and looking around, occasionally letting out a gasp of amazement.
Yan Yi listened to the chattering sounds coming from inside and gently curled the corners of her lips.
The two settled down in Xiao Yujing's "harem" and even got her permission to secretly come to the front court, hide behind a screen to attend the court meeting, and witness firsthand the figures who were only written in history books arguing heatedly about the court, which was quite a lively scene.
Xiao Yujing also generously invited Yan Yi to review memorials and discuss state affairs with her.
Yan Yi eagerly learned from this founding emperor, like a sponge soaking up water, making each day incredibly fulfilling.
Occasionally, the two would talk about the future, but Yan Yi quickly and keenly realized that Xiao Yujing didn't seem to want to know about her, so she cooperated by avoiding the topic.
They all carefully maintained the stable structure of this time travel, like an endless Möbius strip. No one could predict how a small change they made in the past would affect the future.
At the same time, Xiao Yujing used her rich experience in struggle to deduce that their assassination was carried out by members of the imperial family.
“They wouldn’t dare lay a hand on my great-great-granddaughter. It’s easier for a fool to choose between harming an official’s wife and harming an imperial heir.”
Xiao Yujing shook his head, as if ashamed that he had such an incompetent descendant.
She asked Yan Yi, "Do you think I'm weak? If I had announced my true identity to the world from the beginning, and if a woman becoming empress was no longer a rebellious and audacious idea, perhaps it would have been easier for Tong'an to embark on this path?"
"Your Majesty, you have done the best within your capabilities."
Yan Yi's calm gaze seemed to possess a soothing power. She looked at Xiao Yujing's no longer young face and realized that this woman, who refused to accept her fate and dared to change the world, had also experienced hesitation and confusion.
"Firstly, due to the pressures of the times, and secondly, due to systemic limitations, in that chaotic world of war and famine, 'Xiao Yujing' had more appeal than 'Xiao Yu'."
Yan Yi grasped her hand, feeling the slightly rough lines on her palm, and said earnestly, "You lifted the sea ban, introduced superior breeds, gathered talents and virtuous men, and issued decrees. History records you as a wise ruler in a chaotic era. Without you, there would have been no more than a hundred years of peace and stability in Daye... Admittedly, we all know that emperors and generals have their own historical limitations, but without a corresponding level of productivity, how easy is it to become fat in one bite?"
All I can say is that it was fortunate that their founding emperor was Xiao Yujing.
She planted a seed more than a hundred years ago and then waited for it to take root and sprout little by little.
A look of relief appeared in Xiao Yujing's eyes as she gripped Yan Yi's hand tightly in return.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness you came."
Only then can she see that I am not alone on this path.
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Author's Note: I'm shocked! I didn't know you guys usually had so much nutrient solution on hand! [crying emoji][crying emoji] I've never seen anything like this before, haha! A 360-degree spiral bow of gratitude! [sprinkling emoji][sprinkling emoji]
Finally, I've reached this part that I really enjoy, and it's also the part that people have been discussing a lot in the early stages of this story: whether the two daughters will be assimilated. Here's my answer. [Sunglasses]
//To celebrate receiving tons of nutrient solution & successfully updating today & Pei Da and Pei Er continuing their cosplay of the Waiting-for-Wife Stone, a small gift will be given away for comments within 24 hours of this chapter! [shy][shy]
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