Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Unbearable to Read
The wind, carrying the dampness from the river, blew over, making people instinctively wrap their clothes even tighter.
On the deck, Pei Zhiwei was wrapped in Xiao Yunzhan's wide, dark cloak, which covered almost her entire body, with only her face showing.
Xiao Yunzhan's words, "I will carry you back," were still echoing in his ears.
She couldn't tell whether it was more of a joke or something more serious, and it inexplicably made her feel a little nervous.
"No, Your Highness, that's not necessary!"
She waved her hands frantically, not caring that the hem of her cloak was dragging on the deck. She stepped forward on her toes and lurched forward, managing to regain her balance after taking two quick steps.
This made me feel even more embarrassed; I felt like my head was about to burst into flames.
She tried to break the awkward silence, saying, "Really, it's not necessary. My knees don't hurt anymore, and I can walk on my own."
To prove she wasn't lying, she straightened her back and took a small step forward, but the movement was so stiff that even she felt awkward.
Xiao Yunzhan looked at her with amusement.
When he usually saw her, she was either logically clear and sharp-tongued when investigating cases, or calm and decisive when dealing with matters.
I've never seen her so helpless and making such stupid mistakes.
He didn't find her annoying at all; on the contrary, he found her rather endearing.
A rare amusement welled up in Xiao Yunzhan's heart. He deliberately slowed his speech, feigning a knowing question.
"Really? But when I saw you get up just now, your movements weren't very nimble."
If we stubbornly persist and delay the investigation, wouldn't that be penny-wise and pound-foolish?
"I'll carry you on my back."
"It will absolutely not interfere with important matters!" Pei Zhiwei hurriedly assured, her voice unconsciously rising a little before quickly lowering it again.
I wanted to slap myself in my heart. Why did I raise my voice so loudly? It made me look guilty, like I was trying to hide something obvious!
She quickly added, "I'll just apply some hot water when I get back, it's really nothing."
Just as I was panicking and didn't know what to say, a gentle voice suddenly came from the cabin, "Zhiwei?"
Pei Zhiwei turned her head almost immediately—it was her mother!
She breathed a sigh of relief; they had arrived just in time. Any later, and she wouldn't have known what to say.
Yan Jinghong walked over from the cabin door, his outer robe draped over her arm. It was obvious that he was worried about her not returning for a long time and had come out to look for her.
"Mother." Pei Zhiwei called out, instinctively wanting to walk towards her mother. She took a few quick steps and almost tripped over her cloak.
Yan Jinghong's gaze lingered on his daughter for a moment. Seeing that she was standing properly, he felt a sense of relief. Then his gaze fell on the cloak that was clearly not hers.
She looked up again at Prince Rui, who was standing not far away with his hands behind his back, and finally her gaze fell back on her daughter's face, which had a suspicious blush.
Yan Jinghong, being an experienced person, quickly flashed a knowing smile in her eyes.
She stepped forward and handed him the coat in her hand, her tone as natural as if she hadn't seen anything: "Jiang Fengliang, why have you been standing outside for so long? Quickly put this on too."
Pei Zhiwei was worried about not having a chance to return the cloak, so she quickly took the clothes her mother handed her and reached out to untie the cloak's straps.
But somehow, the ribbons seemed to get tangled up, and the more anxious and flustered she became, the more tangled the knot became.
Seeing this, Yan Jinghong reached out to help her. Her fingertips gently gathered the ribbon, and it was untied in no time.
She handed the cloak back to Xiao Yunzhan and curtsied slightly, saying, "Thank you for taking care of my daughter, Your Highness."
Xiao Yunzhan accepted it and said simply, "Madam Pei, you're too kind. It was nothing."
Yan Jinghong smiled and then took Pei Zhiwei's arm. "Your Highness, my daughter and I will take our leave now."
Xiao Yunzhan nodded: "Please proceed, Madam."
As she passed by Xiao Yunzhan, Pei Zhiwei couldn't help but glance at him quickly, only to see him slowly and methodically adjusting the straps of his cloak.
His gaze fell on her, and a lingering smile seemed to remain on his lips.
Startled, she immediately turned her head. Why was he still watching? Was he still laughing at her embarrassing moment?
Only after entering the cabin, where she was shielded from the outside view and the river breeze, did Pei Zhiwei quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
Yan Jinghong turned to look at her, couldn't help but smile to herself, and said gently, "I still have some blood-activating ointment that I prepared last time, I'll bring it to you later."
"It's really alright, Mother," Pei Zhiwei replied softly. She didn't know why, but even though she hadn't done anything outrageous, she felt inexplicably guilty in front of her mother, Yan Jinghong.
She subconsciously rubbed her right knee, which was still aching slightly, but she refused to admit it.
"It's good that you're alright." Yan Jinghong patted her hand and casually remarked, "This Prince Rui doesn't seem to have any airs and is quite gentle."
Pei Zhiwei gave a vague "hmm," secretly pursing her lips. You didn't see how he interrogated people, nor did you hear how he teased me just now...
***
The following afternoon, the ship slowly sailed into the Suzhou dock.
The governor of Suzhou, Gu Boheng, had already prepared the carriages. The group got off the boat and boarded the carriages, heading straight for the princess's residence.
Princess Zhaohua, Xiao Wanyao, the third princess and the late emperor's legitimate daughter, received a letter from Gu Boheng sent by fast horse and waited in front of the mansion early in the morning.
As soon as the motorcade appeared at the street corner, a genuine smile immediately appeared in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth curved even more sharply, but she did not forget the dignity of royalty and did not lose her composure.
Xiao Yunzhan rode ahead on horseback.
"Yun Zhan!" Xiao Wanyao's eyes lit up. Although she was eager to see her younger brother, she only lifted her skirt and took a few quick steps, her voice filled with excitement.
Xiao Yunzhan jumped off his horse and ran over quickly.
"It's been so many years since we last met. You've grown so tall and even more handsome now," Xiao Wanyao said, raising her hand to affectionately touch Xiao Yunzhan's face.
Upon seeing his sister whom he hadn't seen for many years, Xiao Yunzhan's coldness softened considerably. Seeing her eyes redden, he quickly teased her:
"Don't I personally paint a portrait of my third sister every year?"
But my third sister, on the other hand, has a rosy complexion and looks even better than before.
"You still know how to sweet-talk me." Xiao Wanyao smiled and glared at him.
She looked at her younger brother carefully, reached out and straightened his already neat clothes, her fingertips trembling slightly, full of tenderness.
“Every time he wrote back, he would say some nonsensical things to coax me, but the important thing is that he didn’t mention anything else.”
I only learned about this major case involving the Qin family from your brother-in-law.
You said you…
"Oh dear, Third Sister," Xiao Yunzhan interrupted her with a hint of coquetry, "So many people are watching."
Xiao Wanyao gave him a reproachful look, "Alright, alright, people who have reached adulthood are different, even Third Sister can't say anything about it."
At this moment, Pei Lin and his family also got off the carriage and stepped forward to pay their respects.
Xiao Wanyao then came to her senses and quickly raised her hand to help him up, saying, "Lord Pei, Madam Pei, Lady Pei, please don't stand on ceremony."
"You've come from afar, you're all my honored guests. No need for such formalities, please come in and rest."
Her gaze lingered on Pei Zhiwei for a moment longer, tinged with a hint of friendly curiosity.
Is this the Lady Pei who supposedly helped Xiao Yunzhan investigate the Feng Chao case?
She looks quite demure, but her eyes are sharp and bright, unlike those of an ordinary woman confined to her boudoir.
Xiao Wanyao smiled at Pei Zhi and nodded gently.
The princess's residence looks grand, yet it perfectly blends the delicate and exquisite style unique to Jiangnan gardens.
As everyone walked along the corridor toward the flower hall, each step revealed a new scene, showcasing the ingenuity and dedication of the person who designed the courtyard.
The hall was elegantly decorated, yet exuded a royal air.
The incense burning in the incense burner smelled like it was made by a master perfumer.
Based on her intuition, Pei Zhiwei felt that this master perfumer was none other than the Third Princess, who was sitting at the head of the table.
At this moment, she was holding Xiao Yunzhan's hand, openly complaining that the Emperor's bestowal of marriage upon Xiao Yunzhan had caused him so much unhappiness.
Xiao Yunzhan looked somewhat helpless and tried to persuade him gently, but occasionally he would chime in with comments like, "The Emperor just doesn't love him as much as his sister does."
The way she was begging for candy from her sister almost blinded Pei Zhiwei.
She glanced discreetly at the other people in the flower hall.
Gu Boheng pulled Pei Lin aside to talk, mostly about the local customs and culture of Suzhou, as well as recent political affairs.
It was as if they hadn't heard the princess's conversation with Prince Rui at all.
Mother Yan Jinghong, on the other hand, was completely focused on savoring the fragrant Jiangnan tea in her hand.
Pei Zhiwei also wisely picked up a piece of pastry, savoring it slowly, trying to focus her attention on the pastry and ignoring the occasional disrespectful remarks from the two people above her.
As they were chatting, a head maid led a group of maids carrying various kinds of snacks into the room.
The old woman was around forty years old. She had powder on her face, but she looked listless, with a haggard face and dull eyes. It seemed like she had only managed to force a smile. "Your Highness, these are seasonal snacks from Jiangnan that you instructed the kitchen to make earlier."
As she spoke, she presented a plate of pastries shaped like cranes to the princess.
Xiao Wanyao smiled and took out a piece and handed it to Xiao Yunzhan: "Here, this is the crane pastry that you loved to eat when you were little. I specially asked them to make it for you."
She turned to the crowd, her tone tinged with pride: "Cook Li's pastries are absolutely amazing, they're famous throughout Suzhou, even better than those in the palace. You all have to try them."
Everyone followed her suggestion and picked up a pastry to try.
Pei Zhiwei also took a small piece. It was sweet and smooth with the fragrance of osmanthus. It was so soft and glutinous that it melted in her mouth with just a gentle touch. The sweetness was just right and not cloying.
But the old woman put down the plate of pastries, and instead of leaving, she seemed to have made up her mind and knelt down on the ground with a thud!
The suddenness of the event caused the hall to fall silent instantly, with everyone staring at her in surprise.
Princess, born into royalty, was always surrounded by carefully selected servants from the palace. She had never seen such unruly behavior before.
The old woman raised her head, looked at Xiao Wanyao, her lips trembling, as if she had used all her strength to kowtow.
"Your Highness! Please have mercy and save my daughter!"
My daughter has been missing for seven days!
"Your Highness, please have mercy and send someone to help me find my daughter! I kowtow to you! I kowtow to you!"
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