Chapter 75 Advance Wedding Date "Pei Yanxing, if you ever see Hehua again..."
Last year at the Cui family's lotus-viewing banquet, Lu Heming recited this poem he had written about lotuses while boating on the lake with her.
She spoke of something fresh and elegant, but it was actually so sour it gave me goosebumps.
How do you know this poem?
"At that time... I was on the boat next to it."
So that's the crux of the problem.
Meng Lingyao suddenly realized, then couldn't help but frown, and said with amusement, "Why are you so concerned about a prisoner?"
She felt she had made herself perfectly clear. Besides, he was not unaware of these past events.
She has always been this way; she has never tried to hide it.
"I know."
He sighed softly, “I’m just afraid that one day… you will no longer see me.”
Just like how she resolutely severed her ties with Lu Heming and the others.
How perceptive, and how decisive!
He doesn’t know what he would do if that day ever came.
He forced himself to suppress those surging thoughts, fearing that saying them aloud would frighten her.
He pursed his thin lips and fell silent again.
Meng Lingyao noticed the change in Pei Xu's mood. Unlike when they were in the garden, where he was just teasing her and she was enjoying it.
At this moment, his dejection was genuine, like an invisible, damp, and cold net, heavily enveloping him.
She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking how Xie Chengyu really knew how to cause her trouble.
"Pei Xu." Meng Lingyao called in a low voice.
Pei Xu looked up upon hearing the sound.
She leaned forward, shortening the distance between them.
The moment their lips touched, the soft touch and their slightly disordered breaths intertwined into a chaotic warmth.
She instinctively closed her eyes.
It was a fleeting touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water, and she was about to pull away when suddenly a warm sensation covered the back of her neck.
His hands were large and long, calloused from years of holding pens and swords, yet his strength was incredibly gentle, as if he were holding a fragile, rare treasure, steadily supporting her thoughts of retreating.
My fingertips accidentally brushed against the sensitive skin on the side of my neck, sending a tingling sensation through me.
His soft whisper mingled between their tightly pressed lips, "Yaoyao..."
His voice was deep and hoarse, as if it were soaked in spring water, striking straight into the heart.
Meng Lingyao's breath caught in her throat as she was pulled into a warm swamp, losing all her strength and leaving her no choice but to let him lead her deeper.
His tongue gently parted her teeth, tentatively and tenderly, softly entwining itself around hers...
The delicate fragrance of lotus blossoms also became intensely hot.
His breath enveloped her, and a strange tingling sensation spread from every corner of her lips and tongue, leaving her feeling weak all over.
Meng Lingyao nestled softly in his arms, floating and sinking in the chaotic world where the fragrance of lotus and the fresh scent of grass and trees blended together, almost suffocating, yet willingly drowning in it.
After an unknown amount of time, a very faint taste of rust suddenly wafted between my lips and teeth.
She bit Pei Xu's lip without realizing it.
A tiny bit of crimson seeped out, staining his pale lips like a blood-red mole on white jade.
Meng Lingyao, panting, looked at the wound on his lip, then suddenly pressed her fingertips against it and chuckled, "Pei Yanxing, from now on, when you see lotus flowers, you are only allowed to think of me."
As the light and shadow shifted, his usually calm and restrained dark eyes now clearly reflected her slightly panting breath, her eyes misty with tears, and her lips red and swollen.
Deep within my eyes, the storm is gradually subsiding.
He gently took her hand in his, lowered his eyes, and used his tongue to wipe away the traces of blood on her fingertips, responding with utmost devotion.
"good."
Then, he completely let go of her, leaned back against the carriage wall, and closed his eyes.
Meng Lingyao sat on the other side of the carriage, breathing steadily. Her fingers, hidden in her sleeve, rubbed against it several times without making a sound. There seemed to still be some warm, damp sensation there, making her think—
Pei Xu comes from a noble family, so where did he learn these seductive tricks?
Inside the carriage, the emerald canopy and elegant decorations still exuded a faint fragrance, as if all the raging fire and frost just now were nothing more than a silent dream.
The carriage came to a stop outside the side gate of the Dali Temple. Pei Xu sat quietly for a long time, straightened his clothes, lifted the curtain and stepped down, holding a lone lotus flower in his arms.
Miss Meng explained that the flowers were a gift from a dear friend, and she couldn't give them all to him. She could only give him one as a token of her affection.
Inside the official residence, files were piled up like mountains. The affairs of the Court of Judicial Review were numerous and he rarely had free time, but now that he knew she was going to the Cui family, he naturally could not let her go alone.
Now, I finally have some free time to handle official business.
Pei Xu found a vase, filled it with water, arranged the flower, and then sat down at his desk to review official documents, his usual composed and calm demeanor returning.
It doesn't matter; it's normal for more people to appear in the future.
He only needs to be the one she would choose after weighing the pros and cons countless times.
When Shen Xiaoshan came in carrying the files, his gaze lingered for a moment on the small wound on Pei Xu's lip.
He has been busy learning martial arts lately. The people from the Dali Temple showed no mercy, and he suffered various injuries, both minor and major. He has become very familiar with the injuries on a person's body, and he also spent a few days learning injury assessment from the coroner...
Even so, he couldn't immediately tell where the injury on Shaoqing's lip came from.
A knife wound? It doesn't seem like it; the cut is too short.
A bump or scratch? No, no, the shape is wrong.
A cut from a sharp weapon? That... doesn't make sense.
It couldn't have been... that he was in such a rush while eating that he accidentally bit himself, could it?
If that's the case, then the Cui family's food must be unclean.
After a few moments of thought, Shen Xiaoshan's expression turned grave. This matter concerned the safety of the Junior Minister and could not be taken lightly.
After leaving the official residence, he hurriedly found the steward and asked him to go to the warehouse to find some wound medicine to give to the master.
Just then, Yue Meng came out from Pei Xu's place and saw Shen Xiaoshan's serious expression. Hearing about some wound medicine, he curiously leaned closer and asked, "Whose medicine is this?"
Shen Xiaoshan gestured with his eyes to the tightly closed official's office door, then pointed to the same spot on the corner of his lips, and whispered, "My lord."
Yue Meng's face first showed astonishment, then his lips suddenly parted into an exaggerated smile, and an uncontrollable low laugh burst out instantly.
"You..." He patted Shen Xiaoshan on the shoulder, "I think you should get married soon."
Shen Xiaoshan was confused. "Brother Yue Meng, I'm still young..."
Yue Meng shook his head, a hint of pity on his face. "Go play, sweetie."
The medicine for wound healing was never delivered to the official residence, but the tea that was delivered was much colder than usual.
Pei Xu looked up from the files, picked up the teacup and brought it to his lips. He paused slightly, then drank it down as if nothing had happened.
As night fell like a splash of thick ink, the exquisite lampstands throughout the courtyard lit up one after another with a warm yellow glow.
Following the blueprints and requirements drawn up by the lady of the house, the courtyard where Pei Xu had lived alone for several years has been completely transformed. It is no longer as desolate as it once was, like a Taoist temple deep in the mountains.
Along the scattered pebble paths, various lanterns, some leaning against magnolia trees, some hidden among green bamboo groves, and some adorning the Taihu stones, are exquisitely integrated into the scenery.
The lampshade is painted with landscapes, flowers, and birds, and the soft candlelight spreads layers of light and shadow among the branches and leaves.
Under the pear tree, the swing set creaked gently in the evening breeze, and the stone path was finally paved.
The once spacious and desolate courtyard is now bathed in a carefully designed halo of light, a cold and hard painting tinged with gentle colors.
Pei Xu stepped into the courtyard and stood quietly for a moment. The lights were bright, the fragrance of flowers wafted in the air, and he could even imagine her laughing and playing on the swing…
At this moment, however, the world was completely silent.
The warmth of the lamplight only served to accentuate an indescribable emptiness and loneliness, so quiet that one could almost hear their own heartbeat.
A creeping vine, more vivid than ever before, called "longing," quietly climbed onto my heart, tightened, and entwined...
He suddenly spoke, "Qingzhou, prepare the car tomorrow, let's go back to the old house."
The light boat lowered its head and replied, "Yes."
A slight ripple stirred within him. The master always acted with method; unless there was urgent business, he would always return to the mansion to visit the old master at the end of the ten-day period.
It's only been five days... This trip has been moved up inexplicably, could it be something important?
The next day, at the Pei residence.
Pei Xu did not linger, but walked straight through several deep corridors to the west courtyard where Old Master Pei usually sat and slept.
The courtyard is lush with flowers and trees.
A small table was placed under the pomegranate tree. Old Master Pei sat cross-legged on a futon, holding a small silver wine pot in one hand and a pen in the other. He frowned and pondered over the poem on the open paper, seemingly deliberating over the words.
Pei Xu approached.
The old servant serving by the side, seeing that it was the young master, quickly whispered a reminder in the old master's ear.
Old Master Pei looked up from his poetic state and saw Pei Xu. He instinctively put his hands behind his back, intending to hide the wine pot.
Pei Xu glanced at the silver wine pot in his grandfather's hand and looked at the old servant beside him, "How much did Grandfather drink?"
The old servant dared not conceal anything and truthfully reported the approximate number.
"Too many."
Old Master Pei glared, his hand protecting the wine pot, "Is it too much? Not at all!"
Pei Xu reached out his hand and looked at him quietly.
"..."
Old Master Pei closed his eyes in deep sorrow, weighing his options carefully, and then said, "Here—"
He had it all figured out: if he didn't give it to his grandson this time, he wouldn't get to drink the fine wine his grandson brought back from all over the world next time.
Having lost his wine, he stopped worrying about it. The tip of his brush twirled gently in the inkstone, drawing his thoughts back to the poem. He casually asked, "Why are you so free to return to the mansion today? Is there nothing to do at the yamen?"
Pei Xu said calmly, "My grandson has come to wish to move up the wedding date."
The strokes of his pen suddenly froze!
The pen tip hovered in mid-air, a drop of ink, unable to bear the weight, silently fell onto the snow-white poetry paper, spreading into a blot of ink.
Old Master Pei looked up, astonished, and asked, "Ahead of schedule? Why?"
His mind went blank; he had completely forgotten the next line of the poem he was supposed to write. "Wasn't it said that the grand ceremony would be held after Her Highness returned to the capital? It would be most dignified for her to officiate the wedding..."
His eyes darted around quickly. Although he hadn't been going out much lately, how could the slightest movement in the capital escape the Pei family's notice?
Is it because of the Cui family's troubles? Or is this kid... eager to settle things officially?
In an instant, countless chaotic thoughts collided in his mind.
Pei Xu's expression remained unchanged. He simply said, "I received a letter from Your Highness a few days ago. The war in the southwest is at a stalemate, and I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to return to the capital this year."
"...within the year?!"
Old Master Pei's voice suddenly rose, his face wrinkled like an orange that had been drying in the wind for many days hanging under the eaves.
His finger trembled as he pointed at his grandson, “There are still less than six months left until the end of the year! Betrothal, asking the name, auspicious date selection, presenting gifts, setting the wedding date, and the wedding ceremony! Which of the six rites of human relations recorded in the Book of Rites is not time-consuming and laborious?”
He was so anxious he almost stamped his feet, his snow-white beard trembling violently. "How will others see you if you act in such a hurry? They will say that you, Pei Yanxing, do not cherish the future mistress of the family at all! Is this kind of neglect the honor of the Pei family?!" The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became, and his voice trembled.
Pei Xu fell silent.
His tall and slender figure stood under the pomegranate tree, his eyes lowered as he looked at the smudged ink on his grandfather's desk.
The usual aloofness and coldness had vanished from his face, replaced by a rare, almost blank, bewildered expression.
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Author's Note: Why sit quietly for so long? It's so hard to guess! [Shut up]
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