Chapter 23 A bad dog doesn't deserve to sleep in a bed
Perhaps the gatekeeper had misremembered the time, assuming that he would go straight to the front yard to spend the night after leaving the ancestral hall.
Tch, he's married now. How can he leave his wife alone on the second night of their marriage?
A mere courtyard gate couldn't stop him.
Pei Jinghuai took two steps to the side, rubbed his hands together, and then jumped up onto the wall. With a long stride, he landed lightly on the ground.
The movements were very skillful, and no sound was made throughout the entire process.
The lights were all off in the courtyard, making it pitch black. A crescent moon hung in the sky, and a few sparse stars twinkled in the distance.
Pei Jinghuai walked quickly to the bedroom, gently pushed the door, which was bolted shut.
...You really didn't leave the door open for him?
He scratched his head, and, unwilling to give up, circled around outside until he finally found an open window.
He took down the support bar holding up the window, braced himself against the window frame with one hand, and slid inside.
The window he climbed through was right in the shower stall. The tub on the floor was still damp with steam, and a faint scent of gardenias lingered in the air.
It smelled like the perfume she used for bathing.
Pei Jinghuai took two deep breaths, becoming increasingly distracted.
He was about to leave the cubicle when he remembered how Shen Lingyue had avoided him with disgust when he returned from his morning practice, seeing him covered in sweat. He paused in his tracks.
He had been kneeling in the ancestral hall for six hours; his body was practically soaked in the heavy, oppressive sandalwood scent, so he must have smelled terrible.
So Pei Jinghuai turned back, quickly stripped himself naked, soaked a towel in the water in the copper basin next to him, carefully wiped himself down, changed into a clean set of nightgown, and then confidently walked out.
Surely she won't mind now?
Pei Jinghuai tiptoed to the bedside and lifted the bed curtains.
The silvery moonlight streamed softly through the window paper, casting a thin mist over her fair face.
Shen Lingyue lay with her face turned outwards, hugging his pillow in her arms, one leg draped over it, tightly pressed together, her head tilted to the side as she slept soundly.
Pei Jinghuai: ...
You're really carefree.
He stood by the bed, staring at her without moving, exuding an aura of sorrow.
He grew angrier the more he thought about it, so he bent down and reached out.
Just as he was about to pinch Shen Lingyue's nose, she seemed to sense something and groggily opened her eyes—
What the heck is this huge white thing?!
It has been proven that people do not scream when they are in a state of extreme fear.
Shen Lingyue acted on instinct, grabbed the pillow in her hand, and threw it forward without thinking.
Does it have a physical form?
Smash! Smash! Smash!
Caught off guard, Pei Jinghuai jumped up and down, raising his hand to shield his face while angrily shouting, "Stop hitting me! It's me!"
Shen Lingyue paused, rubbing her eyes vigorously twice. "Husband?"
Pei Jinghuai said irritably, "Who else could it be?"
He grimaced and reached for a small lamp by the bedside, which he used to get up at night, and lit it with a tinderbox.
With a hiss, a flame leaped up, illuminating a handsome face as black as the bottom of a pot.
Shen Lingyue awkwardly put down the pillow and chuckled dryly, "I didn't expect you to come back in the middle of the night."
She glanced at his white pajamas again and muttered under her breath, "Who told you to stay up all night without a light on, and dressed like that with your hair all messed up..."
She's incredibly strong for not having a heart attack from the fright, okay?
Pei Jinghuai: ...Is it my fault?
He snorted twice, deciding not to argue with her, and nudged her arm twice, saying, "Move over a bit."
Honestly, does she think she can have the whole bed to herself just because he's not coming back?
That enigmatic sleeping posture... it's simply unbearable to look at.
Shen Lingyue didn't move. "Why should we move?"
Pei Jinghuai looked at her, "If you don't move, where am I supposed to sleep?"
He paused for a moment, seemingly misunderstanding her meaning, coughed lightly, and touched his collar in a pretentious manner.
"Since it's what you want..."
What is she thinking?
Before Shen Lingyue could ask anything, Pei Jinghuai suddenly blew out the lamp. The next second, she fell into a broad and hot embrace, her face buried in his warm embrace.
Pei Jinghuai hugged her and gently bit the small earlobe that he had been eyeing for a long time.
"No, wait a minute—"
Shen Lingyue's nose was wedged right in the middle of his chest, and he pressed the back of her head down for a flurry of random kisses. It took a lot of effort for her to struggle and finally manage to lift her head, her voice panting, "I have something to say... mmm..."
What are you babbling about? Never mind, I want to kiss you.
Shen Lingyue felt as if she had just returned home from a long trip, only to be pounced on by the giant Alaskan Malamute that had stayed behind, which then happily nibbled at her face.
The enormous size difference between the human and the dog left her powerless to resist.
She only realized with a start when a chill ran down her shoulder that most of her nightgown had been stripped off and was hanging loosely around her waist.
But the bad dog was faster; its upper body was already completely exposed.
He pulled her hand and pressed it against his.
Without that layer of fabric, the feel is absolutely amazing...
No, no!
Two little voices were arguing wildly in Shen Lingyue's mind; she couldn't let herself be tempted like this!
She wants to give him the silent treatment!
Do you even know what the Cold War is?
She pinched him hard. "Listen to me first!"
Pei Jinghuai let out a muffled groan. The spot where she pinched him hurt a little, but then came an indescribable tingling sensation that made him even more excited.
Shen Lingyue struggled to free her hands from his home, instead cupping his face in her hands, pinching his soft cheeks, and trying to distance herself from him.
She gasped for breath, "Tell me first, why did you fight with my older brother?"
It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over the scorching air.
It was dark inside the tent, but Shen Lingyue could feel his burning gaze fixed on her.
"Why did you have to bring this up at a time like this?"
Pei Jinghuai's low, husky voice carried a hint of displeasure. His fingers, which were gripping her waist, twitched slightly, and his rough fingertips unintentionally brushed against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.
Her body trembled slightly, and she shook her dizzy head vigorously, whispering firmly, "Yes."
She's a very principled person!
If a couple cannot treat each other with honesty, it is better to draw clear boundaries from the beginning.
Pei Jinghuai remained silent for a while, seemingly torn between his inner thoughts and his own.
Shen Lingyue didn't urge them. Although the two were still maintaining intimate actions, the invisible distance between them was gradually widening.
Pei Jinghuai suddenly exerted force, grabbed her waist, picked her up, and placed her on the inside of the bed.
"It's none of your business as a woman to pry into what men do outside the home."
He got up, got out of bed, and strode away. A moment later, the sound of running water came from the cubicle.
Shen Lingyue: !
If eyes could breathe fire, she would have burned through the bed curtains by now.
Ugh, what kind of nonsense is this!
Pei Ergou, you emotionally unstable and chauvinistic bastard!
She angrily pulled up her collar, buttoned it all the way up, and threw Pei Jinghuai's pillow and blankets all over the bed.
Bad dogs don't deserve to sleep in beds, go sleep on the floor!
When Pei Jinghuai returned from his shower, he saw the pillows and blankets on the floor, scoffed, said nothing, and simply made his own bed and lay down.
With his hands behind his head and his legs crossed, he looked completely at ease.
Shen Lingyue peeked through the gaps in the bed curtains and became even angrier.
...Fine, let's see who can endure more.
She turned around angrily, facing the inside of the bed and closed her eyes.
Fifteen minutes later.
Pei Jinghuai lifted the blanket a crack and saw Shen Lingyue curled up in a ball, wrapped in the blanket.
He immediately moved the pillows and blankets back onto the bed.
The ground was cold and hard, and he wasn't stupid.
Pei Jinghuai reached out and flicked Chen Lingyue on the back of the head.
She's such a troublemaker, always asking so many questions.
Would he really have nothing better to do than cause trouble for Pei Jingyi?
It's all because that ice-cold, wooden-faced guy is doing nothing right!
Pei Jinghuai clenched his fist.
He had finally managed to steal evidence from the Duke of Ling's mansion that Gu Yuan had missed a crucial opportunity in the war, and he had found an imperial censor to prepare a memorial to impeach him, but Pei Jingyi stopped him at the last minute.
As soon as he received the news today, he rushed to Jiusi Academy, wanting to find Pei Jingyi and ask him why he was being stopped from avenging his elder brother Gu Lin.
But Pei Jingyi said he was too rash and impulsive, saying that "there were other hidden stories in the Battle of Mobei. Exposing Gu Yuan now would only alert the enemy and lose the big fish that was to come."
Pei Jinghuai pressed him for details, but he refused to say anything more, only telling him to wait a little longer.
"How long do we have to wait? Until the grass on Brother Gu Lin's grave is three feet high, until Gu Yuan forces his unwanted fiancée on him, and uses his brother's back to gain wealth and power, and take over the Duke of Ling's mansion?!"
Pei Jinghuai glared angrily at that cold, handsome face that seemed to never show any emotion, and blurted out, "You're just deliberately going against me! You know perfectly well that I'm closer to Brother Gu Lin, you're jealous, you don't want him to still be superior to you after he's dead!"
Even after he said such harsh things, Pei Jingyi's indifferent face remained calm.
He slightly raised his peach blossom eyes and looked at Pei Jinghuai, "What am I jealous of? I'm jealous that he devoted himself wholeheartedly to the country, yet was stabbed in the back by someone close to him—"
Pei Jinghuai, unable to bear it any longer, threw a punch.
He thought Pei Jingyi would avoid it. The brothers had studied under the same martial arts master since childhood. The master said that Pei Jingyi had excellent aptitude and high comprehension. If he could calm down and practice hard, he would definitely become a master in the future.
Pei Jingyi wasn't very interested in it. He only learned some basic exercises to strengthen his body, and then he started to practice only sporadically. Even his old man couldn't do anything about it. If he said anything too harsh, his grandmother would cry and wail, lamenting that her eldest grandson had lost his mother and that even his own father didn't love him.
In short, he was a little stunned when he saw that Pei Jingyi's lip was red and swollen from being hit by him.
I wanted to say that I didn't do it on purpose, but I couldn't bring myself to say it.
Pei Jingyi didn't retaliate; he simply touched the corner of his mouth and coldly told him to get lost.
Pei Jinghuai became even angrier and, in a fit of rage, threw the books and paintings on his desk all over the place.
Then Cen Ming and his men chased them all over the mansion.
And then...
Pei Jinghuai snapped out of his reverie and stared at Shen Lingyue's retreating figure, sulking.
Although he knew that Shen Lingyue had overheard his conversation with Lu Zhan from a tree in the abandoned house that day.
However, this matter concerns the situation in the northern desert and may also involve the court. Even Pei Jingyi kept it a secret, so he couldn't tell Shen Lingyue, a woman in the inner quarters.
Besides, all he did was punch Pei Jingyi once, without breaking any bones. Why is his whole family acting like he's the most wicked person?
Even though his older brother was the apple of everyone's eye since childhood, and even his mother had to consider other people's opinions, she cared more about Pei Jingyi than about her own son...
Pei Jinghuai became increasingly rebellious, feeling a tragic sense of defiance towards the entire world.
Anyway, he hit me, so what?
Just as I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard a muffled humming sound from beside me.
He turned his head and saw Shen Lingyue fidgeting restlessly, her arms wriggling out from under the covers, her little face flushed from sleep, as if she were hot.
Pei Jinghuai reached out and tugged at the blanket, causing it to unfurl. Shen Lingyue rolled over and ended up in his arms.
Pei Jinghuai closed his eyes with satisfaction.
...
Before dawn, Shen Lingyue woke up first and found herself leaning against Pei Jinghuai with her clothes disheveled. She was so frightened that her soul almost flew away.
"woke up?"
His lazy voice came from above, but it sounded somewhat mischievous.
Shen Lingyue immediately twitched backward a few times, glared at him, and questioned him.
When did you get up here?
Pei Jinghuai's collar was also wide open, and there were several suspicious red marks below his collarbone.
He lay there motionless, looking completely innocent. "I don't know. I just remember someone holding me tightly in the middle of the night and refusing to let go."
Shen Lingyue couldn't bear to watch. She said that it seemed like she was dreaming of gnawing on a big bone and sucking on the white and tender marrow for a long time...
She kept a straight face and didn't say a word, determined to give him the cold shoulder. She climbed off the bed past Pei Jinghuai and called the maid to come in and serve her.
Even the slow-witted Qingchan could sense that something was off between the two. She wanted to ask but didn't dare, and kept blinking at Shuangxu until her eyelids were sore.
When breakfast was served, Shen Lingyue didn't eat with the same relish as yesterday. She took two small steamed buns and put down her chopsticks.
Pei Jinghuai frowned, "Is that all you're eating?"
Shen Lingyue answered methodically, "I need to go to the palace to express my gratitude this morning, so it's not convenient to eat too much."
She didn't even dare to drink the porridge.
Pei Jinghuai knew she was still throwing a tantrum, but he had already said some harsh words yesterday. If he were to back down now, wouldn't he become a henpecked husband who was afraid of his wife?
A true man born between heaven and earth, how could he, how could he...
How could I possibly stoop to the level of a mere woman!
"The palace isn't that scary, have some more."
He spoke in a harsh tone, but his chopsticks honestly placed food in front of her.
The plate quickly piled up into a small mountain, filled with the same dishes she had liked to eat yesterday.
Shen Lingyue glanced at him sideways, and her sullenness dissipated somewhat.
That's more like it.
After breakfast, the two dressed neatly, and someone from the front yard came to tell them that the eldest son and his wife were ready and could meet at the main gate to set off.
Shen Lingyue subconsciously stepped out of the courtyard first, then turned back to urge him after a few steps: "Hurry up, don't keep our eldest brother waiting."
If I can see Yan Yi sooner, I can quickly ask her what exactly happened yesterday.
Pei Jinghuai followed reluctantly.
Big brother, big brother, big brother... you only know your big brother, who is your husband?
From afar, Shen Lingyue saw two figures standing in front of the door. She quickened her pace and stepped forward, first glancing at Yan Yi, then turning to Pei Jingyi.
"Good morning, brother. Is your injury... alright?"
Shen Lingyue took the opportunity to glance at him a few times.
Pei Jingyi has naturally fair skin, so even the slightest bump or scratch is very noticeable.
The bruises on my face had mostly faded after applying medicine all night, leaving only a slight redness around the corners of my mouth.
—People who don't know might think it's a close relative.
The thought flashed through Shen Lingyue's mind, but she quickly dismissed it.
She looked up at Pei Jingyi with great sincerity and said, "My husband is ignorant, please don't hold it against him, brother. Just think of it as being bitten by a dog. We can't bite back, can we?"
Pei Jingyi: ...
Pei Jinghuai, who had just caught up: ...Who are you calling a dog?!
Pei Jingyi was slightly taken aback, then his gaze fell on his exasperated younger brother's face. He smiled slightly, and his tone of voice was no longer so cold.
"What my sister-in-law said makes a lot of sense."
Shen Lingyue breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he didn't hold it against her.
She started flirting with Yan Yi again.
Pei Jinghuai was sulking. When the two carriages arrived one after the other, he reached out and grabbed Shen Lingyue by the collar, shoving her into the carriage without saying a word.
Shen Lingyue poked her head out, her eyes pleading, "I want to..."
I want to ride in the same car as Yan Yi!
No, you don't want to.
Pei Jinghuai refused without hesitation, climbed into the carriage, and closed the door.
"They're a newlywed couple, why are you causing trouble?"
Shen Lingyue turned her face away angrily.
Who was she doing this for, huh?
It's all because of you, you vicious dog who bites people indiscriminately!
They traveled in silence until the carriage stopped at the palace gate for inspection.
Pei Jingyi raised his hand and lifted the carriage curtain, his expression aloof. "My second brother and I, along with our families, are entering the palace to express our gratitude."
The gatekeepers verified their identities and let them through. "Master Pei, Second Young Master Pei, please."
Pei Jingyi is currently a sixth-rank official in the Armory Department of the Ministry of War. Although his rank may not seem high, he is still an official of one of the six ministries, comparable to a deputy ministerial or departmental-level cadre today.
The Armory Department's responsibilities included arms manufacturing, warehousing management, military pay disbursement, and material auditing. It also had the authority to investigate deficits in arms and supplies, track embezzlement and misappropriation, and verify material accounts. ①
If local garrisons want to receive their full pay and supplies as soon as possible, they must maintain good relations with the Armory Administration. Otherwise, if the officials in charge slightly obstruct the process, the soldiers will suffer from hunger and cold.
After the two couples entered the palace gates and walked a short distance, Guard A immediately winked and asked, "Hey, did you see Steward Pei's face?"
Guard B chuckled to himself, "I never imagined that Master Pei, who is usually like an immortal, would become just an ordinary mortal after getting married."
They've all been married before, can't they see the swollen corners of his mouth from being kissed?
The two exchanged knowing, wicked laughs.
*
Qianqing Palace, East Warm Pavilion.
Emperor Qingxi was playing chess with Consort Gao when a eunuch announced that Pei Jingyi and his wife Pei Jinghuai were waiting outside the palace for a summons.
"Oh, it's the two young men from the Pei family who have come to the palace to express their gratitude."
Emperor Qingxi put down the chess pieces and said to Consort Gao, "Let's stop playing for now and go take a look together."
Consort Gao glared at him, "Your Majesty, are you deliberately trying to renege on your debt because you know you're about to lose?"
"No, that's not it." Emperor Qingxi stubbornly insisted, instructing the palace servants, "Leave the chessboard here and don't move it. When the Imperial Concubine and I return, we'll continue the game."
The emperor and empress came to the screen together and took their seats.
A moment later, the four entered the hall and knelt down to pay their respects.
"No need for formalities, please rise."
Emperor Qingxi looked them over with a smile, nodding repeatedly. "Truly a fine couple, a perfect match. Consort, you have indeed played the role of two excellent matchmakers."
Consort Gao smiled radiantly: "When the Lady of Changning Marquis comes to the palace next time, I should ask her to send two more pairs of matchmaker shoes."
Upon hearing this, Shen Lingyue couldn't help but prick up her ears.
This bizarre matchmaking stunt actually came from Consort Gao? What was she after?
She couldn't help but look up.
Emperor Qingxi looked to be in his early fifties, with thick, black hair, a loud, clear voice, a tall and robust build, and a dignified appearance.
He's just like those typical old emperors in period dramas.
She then looked at Consort Gao beside her, and was immediately captivated.
This was absolutely the most radiant beauty she had ever seen since she transmigrated! One glance was enough to be captivated by her stunningly beautiful face, and no words could adequately describe the breathtaking impact it had on her soul.
No matter how dazzling the gold jewelry or how brilliant the gemstones, all external adornments paled in comparison to her, because apart from her face, there was nothing visible in her eyes.
No wonder Consort Gao, despite having no children, remained the most favored and highest-ranking concubine in the harem. Since the late Empress's death, she had managed the six palaces for over ten years, effectively ruling as Empress without the title.
Shen Lingyue understood Emperor Qingxi all too well; who wouldn't want to spend every day with such a beautiful woman?
Perhaps her gaze was too direct, for Consort Gao noticed it. She looked at her with a smile and asked, "Shen, what are you looking at?"
Shen Lingyue came to her senses and realized that she seemed to have offended the emperor. She was a little nervous, but she still mustered up her courage and said, "This humble woman was captivated by the beauty of the Imperial Concubine. Your Highness's appearance is like a fairy and jade, like the bright moon in the sky. It makes people... fall in love at first sight, and be happy when they see you again. I can never get enough of looking at you."
Ugh, you idiom jerk! Hurry up and say a few more idioms! Why do you always get stuck at crucial moments?!
She could shower Consort Gao with a hundred compliments on her beauty, but if she uttered those lewd words, she'd probably be considered a madman.
But sister, you are so beautiful, so incredibly beautiful...
"Hahaha!"
Emperor Qingxi burst into laughter, tapping his finger twice. "Minister Shen writes such exquisite articles, I never imagined his daughter would also be so eloquent and witty."
He asked Pei Jinghuai with a hint of teasing, "Huaizhou, are you satisfied with the wife I chose for you?"
Pei Jinghuai blushed and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."
Emperor Qingxi's gaze swept over Pei Jingyi's lips, and he smiled knowingly.
It seems there's no need to ask about this couple anymore.
Marquis Changning, Pei Xian, was his confidant. He had watched the two Pei brothers grow up, treating them like his own nephews and nieces.
Oh no, Yunzhao is his cousin Qinghe's son, he's her nephew.
Needless to say, he has always handled matters properly in the Ministry of War, and recently he has been ordered to investigate whether there has been any embezzlement of military supplies in various places.
Although Huai Zhou is not Qing He's bloodline, the two are half-brothers, not much different from each other.
"As the saying goes, settle down before you start a career. Huaizhou, you're not getting any younger. Stop being so irresponsible and find a proper job."
Emperor Qingxi, like an elder in a relative's family, earnestly advised and encouraged them, telling them to live a good life and to produce offspring for the Marquis's family as soon as possible. Then he waved his hand to signal them to leave.
After leaving the Qianqing Palace and descending the high white marble steps, Shen Lingyue let out a soft breath.
No wonder Pei Jinghuai said entering the palace wasn't scary; he almost forgot that Princess Qinghe was a member of the royal family.
Pei Jinghuai glanced at her. "Have you forgotten the rules I taught you for entering the palace? How can you keep staring at the Imperial Concubine?"
His blushing just now wasn't out of shyness, it was purely from nervousness and fright.
Knowing she was in the wrong, Shen Lingyue muttered softly, "But the Imperial Concubine is just so beautiful... What's wrong with me just looking?"
Pei Jinghuai sighed and rubbed his forehead. With her impulsive and rash nature, what would happen if she went to a banquet in the palace in the future?
The four of them slowly walked towards the palace gate when suddenly a large group of people came from the opposite direction.
"Yunzhao, Huaizhou, have you come to the palace to see Father Emperor?"
Princess Tong'an walked over with a smile on her face, looking to be in a good mood.
Pei Jingyi nodded in agreement and led Yan Yi to bow to the princess.
Pei Jinghuai and Shen Lingyue quickly followed.
"Alright, we're family, no need to be so polite."
Princess Tong'an offered a helping hand, her gaze falling on Shen Lingyue, and suddenly asked, "Have we met somewhere before?"
Shen Lingyue became nervous the moment she saw Princess Tong'an. After all, she had just caused a huge commotion at the princess's banquet, which resulted in her being penalized with a pay cut and losing her job.
She wanted to hide behind Pei Jinghuai and act like a quail, but she was called out by name.
She had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward, "Your Highness, I attended the flower-viewing banquet you hosted at Qiyun Mountain a few days ago..."
Yes, she was just an ordinary guest attending the banquet and absolutely did not do anything outrageous.
Yan Yi suddenly spoke up: "That's right, I also went to that banquet, and we stayed together the whole time, never separated."
Shen Lingyue was startled and quickly winked and shook her head at Yan Yi, telling her not to take the blame.
Yan Yi pretended not to see it, her expression unchanged, as if she had just casually agreed.
Princess Tong'an looked at the two of them, her smile brightening even more. She nodded and said, "From now on, we're all relatives. I get quite bored at the princess's residence, so you can come and keep me company often."
As she spoke, she seemed quite interested in the cat-eye hairpin in Shen Lingyue's hair, and leaned down to fiddle with it a couple of times.
"...I have some colorless and odorless powder that's even more effective. I'll send you two bottles to try next time?"
She spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear, winked at the stunned Shen Lingyue, and then walked away as if nothing had happened.
Shen Lingyue walked to the palace gate in a daze, and suddenly realized what was happening just as she was about to get into the carriage.
She grabbed Yan Yi's arm, her voice tinged with anxiety, "...I want to sit with you!"
Yan Yi naturally had no objection. She simply looked at Pei Jingyi and politely inquired, "Could you do me a favor, my husband?"
Two carriages came out of the Marquis's residence. If Yan Yi and Shen Lingyue sat together, then he would have to sit with Pei Jinghuai.
Pei Jingyi glanced at him and said calmly, "I'm fine with anything."
"I can't!"
Pei Jinghuai snorted heavily and turned to walk in the opposite direction.
"I have something to take care of. You can go back on your own."
As soon as Shen Lingyue got into the carriage, she grabbed Yan Yi and said quickly, "What should we do? The princess knows that I was the one who drugged her!"
She repeated exactly what Princess Tong'an had said in her ear.
After saying that, he frowned again, "You shouldn't have said that. What if the princess thinks we're in cahoots?"
Yan Yi calmly replied, "But we're accomplices—I act as lookout while you drug the drugs."
Shen Lingyue covered her forehead.
Oh no, Yan Yi has been corrupted by her.
"I think you don't need to worry. What the princess said didn't seem like she was going to punish you," Yan Yi calmly analyzed. "Not only was she not going to punish you, but she even seemed... happy about it?"
Shen Lingyue said with a gloomy face, "But she paid a lot of medical expenses to various families and lost her job of organizing the banquet. How can you not blame me?"
"If she really wanted to find out who drugged you, she would have arrested you long ago. Why would she confess on her own?"
Yan Yi shook her head. "For a pampered princess, money is not important. The fact that she can accept this loss must mean she has other plans."
"Then what does she want? Me?" Shen Lingyue covered her chest with both hands. "I'm straight, straight as a rock."
Yan Yi rolled her eyes at her speechlessly, and Shen Lingyue immediately clung to her without any hesitation, "Hehehe, Yan Yan and I are the best of friends in the world!"
"What's done is done, there's no time to regret it now," Yan Yi comforted her. "Then let's just deal with whatever comes our way."
"Uh-huh!"
Shen Lingyue is easygoing; since Yan Yi said it was nothing, then it was nothing.
Loan anxiety can make you look ugly.
She clung to Yan Yi's arm and frantically chirped at Pei Jinghuai.
"...That's a bad, stupid dog who can't even let go! I kicked him under the bed last night, but he wouldn't say why he was fighting."
Yan Yi: "Pei Jingyi is the same. When I ask him, he just says it's nothing, as if saying a few more words would kill him."
Shen Lingyue concluded: "These two are definitely hiding something from us!"
The two exchanged a glance and sighed.
Men are such a hassle!
It takes more than half an hour to walk from the palace back to the Marquis's residence. The two of them finally had a chance to be together, and they had so much to talk about.
Who could blame Shen Lingyue for having so many oddballs in the Marquis's mansion? The Dowager Madam, Granny Qian, Pei Yuzhen, Dong Lanyi... and several strange collateral relatives during the family reunion, were all included in Shen Lingyue's observation and subjected to a barrage of complaints.
Yan Yi listened attentively, but as the carriage jolted, she gradually became sleepy and raised her hand to yawn.
"Um……"
She added a final comment, then leaned her head on Shen Lingyue's shoulder.
Shen Lingyue immediately shut up and adjusted her posture so that Yan Yi could lean against her more comfortably.
Soon she also got sleepy, and she and Yan Yi snuggled together, their heads close together like two little birds huddling for warmth.
...
The carriage stopped in front of the Marquis's mansion gate.
Pei Jingyi got out of the car and found the car in front of him quiet. He frowned and stepped forward, tapping lightly on the car door with his finger.
"Madam, sister-in-law, we've arrived home."
Startled awake, Shen Lingyue rubbed her eyes groggily. Just as she was about to respond, she turned to face Yan Yi's pale face and couldn't help but feel anxious.
"Yan Yan, Yan Yan, what's wrong? Wake up—"
She gently nudged Yan Yi twice, but Yan Yi seemed to be in a nightmare, covered in sweat, her eyeballs twitching rapidly under her eyelids, and she was muttering to herself.
"No, no, stop it..."
Shen Lingyue panicked and instinctively shouted towards the door, "Quick, someone call a doctor!"
With a loud bang, the car door was pulled open, and Pei Jingyi leaned in, asking, "What happened?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Yan Yi's pale and weak appearance.
Shen Lingyue composed herself, trying to organize her thoughts, "We were all asleep just now, and then she suddenly couldn't wake up..."
Without a word, Pei Jingyi stretched out his hand, "Give me the person."
Shen Lingyue helped Yan Yi up by the waist and helped her towards the car door.
Pei Jingyi grabbed Yan Yi by the waist, pulled her into his arms, took two steps back, and then scooped her up in his arms, striding towards the mansion.
Shen Lingyue jumped out of the car and jogged after him, helping Yan Yi to wrap her arms around Pei Jingyi's neck.
Pei Jingyi carried someone in his arms, his steps still steady, and he calmly instructed the steward to fetch a doctor along the way.
Shen Lingyue felt uneasy, guessing that Yan Yi might have had another dream, but why couldn't she wake up this time?
She followed them all the way into Jiusi Hospital, and stayed by Yan Yi's bedside until the doctor came in with his medicine box.
Seeing this, Pei Jingyi had no choice but to cough and remind her, "Sister-in-law, the doctor needs to take the lady's pulse."
"Oh, oh." Shen Lingyue quickly stepped aside, staring intently without blinking.
The doctor carefully took Yan Yi's pulse and then examined her eyelids closely.
"Doctor, what's wrong with my wife? Why did she suddenly fall into a coma and not wake up?"
The doctor stood up and said to him, "Your wife's pulse is deep, weak, and especially weak on the left Guan position. This is a sign of deficiency of both Qi and blood. It is likely that she was exposed to cold in her childhood and did not receive timely treatment, which has left her with this chronic condition."
She then asked, "Did she have a serious illness a few months ago, one that was extremely dangerous?"
Pei Jingyi frowned slightly.
Shen Lingyue nodded eagerly: "That's right, that's right, she has a high fever, a very high fever."
If the original owner hadn't died of illness, Yan Yi wouldn't have been unlucky enough to transmigrate here.
The doctor nodded. "That's it. She was already weak, and this serious illness has taken a toll on her health. She needs long-term, meticulous care to barely reach the lifespan of a normal person."
Shen Lingyue's eyes instantly reddened.
What does this mean? Does it mean that Yan Yi will leave her soon?
Pei Jingyi remained relatively calm on the surface, but his trembling fingertips betrayed a hint of his inner turmoil.
He organized his thoughts before speaking: "Then why is she in a coma? Or is there some hidden illness?"
Shen Lingyue couldn't hold back any longer and glared at him: "What are you saying? Our Yanyan is perfectly fine!"
Pei Jingyi ignored her rudeness and said to the doctor, "Please prescribe any precious and exquisite prescriptions you have. As long as they can help her recover, I don't care about rare or expensive herbs. If the Marquis's mansion doesn't have them, I will ask the palace for them."
Shen Lingyue: ...That's more like human speech.
The doctor waved his hand, "Please let me finish speaking—although your wife is in a coma, this is actually very beneficial to her health, as it can nourish her mind and promote longevity."
He stroked his goatee, looking puzzled. "I have been practicing medicine for many years, and this is the first time I have ever diagnosed such a strange pulse. Sometimes it is as thin as a spider's thread, and sometimes it is strong and forceful... Haha, it's like two people are playing tug-of-war."
Shen Lingyue's eyes flickered slightly, as if she were deep in thought.
Could it be that the original "Zhou Yanyi" still harbors obsessions and wants to take back her body?
But no one would believe her if she told them this. She couldn't very well go out and find a shaman to exorcise Yan Yi, could she?
And even if they did hire a shaman to perform a ritual, the two of them might actually be the "evil spirits" that need to be exorcised...
The doctor then launched into a long, esoteric medical explanation, concluding that sleep is a good thing, and you can sleep as much as you want until you naturally wake up. Never force yourself to wake up, as it will only frighten and disturb your peace of mind.
Then he prescribed a medicine to nourish the body, and told Yan Yi to drink it for a month to see the effect, and then come back for a follow-up visit after a month.
When Pei Jingyi saw the doctor off, he slipped a purse into his hand.
"Please keep my wife's condition a secret, doctor."
"Don't worry, young master, I know what's important."
Pei Jingyi returned and saw Shen Lingyue leaning over the bedside, holding Yan Yi's hand tightly.
He coughed lightly.
Shen Lingyue turned around, looking at him pleadingly with her red eyes: "I want to stay here with her. I promise I won't wake her, okay?"
Pei Jingyi: "...Okay."
He said to Shen Lingyue, "I'm going to the study to handle some official documents. If she wakes up, send someone to call me."
Shen Lingyue burst into laughter through her tears and nodded in agreement.
Pei Jingyi gently closed the door as he left.
Before the door closed, he peeked inside through the crack one last time.
Shen Lingyue sat curled up on the footstool in front of the bed, gently pressing Yan Yi's hand against her cheek.
For a fleeting moment, Pei Jingyi suddenly felt superfluous.
Not only him, but also Pei Jinghuai.
They are both superfluous.
*
When Yan Yi woke up, the first thing she felt was hunger; her stomach was empty, and she was both thirsty and hungry.
The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was Shen Lingyue, who was lying by the bed. She gently nudged her awake and asked, "What time is it now?"
Shen Lingyue had only taken a nap and woke up at the slightest noise.
Seeing Yan Yi sitting perfectly fine in front of her, she burst into tears and hugged her tightly, refusing to let go.
"Waaaaah, the doctor said you're not in good health... and that you won't live long... you need to sleep more... you scared me to death!"
From her incoherent sobs, Yan Yi finally managed to figure out what had happened.
She chuckled and wiped Shen Lingyue's face, saying, "Alright, I'm not dead yet, so save your tears."
Shen Lingyue clung to her clothes, looking aggrieved, as if afraid that she would disappear in the blink of an eye.
She asked in a hoarse voice, "Did you... again today?"
"Yes, I had another dream."
Yan Yi nodded, her brows furrowing slightly, looking as if she still had lingering fear. "Listen to me first. This dream of mine is connected to the last one."
"Last time? Was it the Princess of Rongcheng who drugged Qi Xiuyuan?"
"Yes, in my dream, the Princess of Rongcheng succeeded."
Yan Yi recalled: "She locked herself and Qi Bianxiu in the room, deliberately made themselves disheveled, and then called someone to catch them in the act."
Princess Rongcheng was the beloved daughter of Prince Heng. After this incident, Prince Heng was furious and forced Qi Xiuyuan to give him an explanation. Princess Heng even threatened him with his mother's life.
Finally, Princess Rongcheng married Qi Xiuyuan as she wished. A year later, through the connections of Prince Heng, Qi Xiuyuan was promoted to Academician of the Hanlin Academy. A year later, he was promoted to Grand Academician of the Left Spring Palace of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
Seeing Shen Lingyue's eyes filled with mosquito coils as she listened, Yan Yi explained, "In short, Qi Bianxiu is on the path to becoming a prime minister. If there are no unexpected events, he will rise steadily, enter the Six Ministries, join the Cabinet, and become a prime minister-like figure."
"Oh, I've seen it on TV, it's the young Grand Secretary!"
Shen Lingyue chuckled and asked, "So, is something unexpected going to happen next?"
"Yes. After Qi Xiuyuan and Princess Rongcheng got married, they lived in separate courtyards. No matter how much Princess Rongcheng forced him, he refused to be with her... Even later, when Princess Rongcheng deliberately brought many male concubines to the mansion to enjoy herself every day, Qi Xiuyuan was able to remain unfazed."
Yan Yi lowered her eyes. "In the fifth year of their marriage, Prince Heng rebelled."
-----------------------
Author's Note: From now on, the male protagonist has a new nickname [doge][doge]
(Pei Er: Who's a dog!)
Ahhh, I felt everyone's enthusiasm today! [crying emoji][crying emoji] I will continue to work hard! [cheering emoji][cheering emoji] On behalf of Yuezai and Yanyan, I wish everyone a happy reading experience!!!
PS: ① All official titles are from the internet. Anyway, I just mixed them up for the sake of the plot [purple heart] (I'm explaining this in advance).
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