Chapter 28: Appointment. What's wrong with being a high-ranking official?
Looking through the window, the person in front of me was waving at me vividly, with joy and shyness on his face.
Even though he didn't say a word, Pei Ji could hear him calling his name in his heart.
The scene before him overlapped with the beheading in his previous life. They were also staring at each other from a distance that was neither far nor near. He was devastated at that time, and he also had guilt and unspeakable love for He Zhiliao.
She was also terrified that they would never see each other again, and her heart was filled with sorrow and grief, but she was also glad that he had not been implicated by the Pei family.
Those bright and clear eyes were now full of joy and excitement. He was waiting for me to come back, looking forward to it.
Pei Ji also secretly made up his mind that after being reborn here, he must completely avoid the experiences of his previous life and protect his family firmly. Even if he was asked to do the most despicable, worst and most disgusting things, he was willing to do it.
Pei Ji dismounted, threw the reins to the waiter in front of the restaurant, and strode upstairs.
Xu Xinran and others who were sitting downstairs immediately brightened up their eyes and stood up to talk to him, but Pei Ji didn't see them at all and went upstairs like a gust of wind.
Just as He Zhiliao was about to open the door, the person outside pushed it open. He looked up in a daze and met a pair of smiling eyes.
【ah! 】
Pei Ji!
Pei Ji smiled as he entered the private room, closing the door behind him. He opened his arms towards He Zhiliao and said, "I just showered before coming here. Come give me a hug."
He Zhiliao blinked, moved cautiously to him, and snuggled into his arms. Before he could raise his hand, Pei Ji grabbed it forcefully and placed it around his waist.
"I haven't seen you for 23 days, and you don't miss your husband at all? You feel so strange, you should just throw yourself into my arms and act coquettishly." Pei Ji's strong arms tightly hugged his slender waist, and he rested his chin on his shoulder and complained softly.
He Zhiliao smiled with his eyes curved and hugged him back tightly. The anxiety he had felt for many days finally dissipated, and he felt relieved.
That kind of floating feeling was not pleasant. He hated that feeling and hoped that Pei Ji would never give him that feeling.
After the two of them sat down, Yuanrong called Chunjian and the others away. I just said that we would set up a separate table for them!
There were only two of them in the private room, so Pei Ji acted as a servant, serving him dishes and adding rice, making sure he fed him every bite himself.
【ah? 】
You eat too!
He Zhiliao also picked up a big piece of meat for him.
"Ah——" Pei Ji opened his mouth and raised his eyebrows at him.
【ah……】
He frowned slightly, this is not good.
"You don't want to give it to me? You don't want to feed me? Then who do you want to give it to? Who do you want to feed?" Pei Ji said as he put down his chopsticks, clasped his hands together, and acted as if he didn't want to eat.
He Zhiliao quickly shook his head. Why did it sound like he was fickle?
He immediately picked up a piece of meat with the serving chopsticks, handed it to Pei Ji's mouth, and looked at him eagerly.
I'm feeding you!
"Hmph." Pei Ji turned his head away and still refused to eat.
【What's going on? I'm feeding you!】
Pei Ji lowered his eyes and stared at the chopsticks with a look of resistance on his face.
He Zhiliao was very good at reading people's expressions and immediately understood what he meant. However, he hesitated whether to change his chopsticks. After all, the food had already been eaten by him.
"What's the matter? You've already eaten with your mouth, but you can't use chopsticks together?" Pei Ji said, pretending to be surprised. "Oh, so you dislike your husband. This behavior really hurts your husband's heart. He is so sad that he is about to cry!"
【ah! 】
He Zhiliao quickly put down the serving chopsticks, picked up the meat with his own chopsticks and stuffed it directly into his mouth, but his own mouth pouted.
Pei Ji laughed silently as he chewed, and also picked up some food for him. The little mute was very easy to coax.
He Zhiliao ate a sticky meal. Under Pei Ji's attack, he was pressed against him. His stomach was also stuffed full of food. He leaned on Pei Ji. He felt that he had difficulty breathing because he ate too much.
They say beauty can mislead people, and it is true.
"It's about time you haven't been to the market yet. How about we go for a walk and just help digest our food?" Pei Ji touched his stomach and found that he had indeed eaten a lot.
I just heard my mother say that he hasn't been eating well recently, so I wanted to coax him to eat more. It seems that I was a bit hasty.
When he went downstairs, he didn't meet Xu Xinran and others again. He Zhiliao felt a little relieved. He didn't want to confront her. He always felt that no matter what he did, it would be his fault.
That feeling is very uncomfortable.
After eating and strolling around the market, He Zhiliao no longer stared at the snacks. Instead, he felt nauseous as if the food would be squeezed out of his throat if he looked at it for a moment longer.
Pei Ji had a lot of things he wanted to buy for him, and he took him to various shops to choose, but in the end he felt that nothing was good enough for his little mute.
"Don't you have anything better?" Pei Ji fiddled with the jewelry casually. "This jade is messy, with cotton and cracks, and the color is not bright enough. Are you trying to fool me with this thing?"
The shopkeeper suddenly became nervous. "These are the finest jades we have. If you don't like them, why not take a look at these gold jewels? They're also beautiful and eye-catching, embellished with sparkling gemstones!"
Pei Ji sighed softly, pulled the little mute to him, and said softly, "You should choose. If you like anything, buy it."
He Zhiliao shook his head slightly. These things were very expensive. Even if he wore the jewelry in the storeroom in different ways, it would take until next year. Besides, he didn't like wearing these at all on a daily basis.
It's a waste to buy it.
"Don't want to pick? Then I want them all." Pei Ji said as he pondered, "I don't want the ugly ones, and I'll pack up the rest."
【ah? 】
I didn’t say I wanted it!
Pei Ji frowned, "You want the ugly ones too? Fine, fine, then after you've seen all of these, pack them up and send them to the Pei residence."
He Zhiliao looked at him blankly. He didn’t mean that at all!
I don't want it.
He moved his mouth slowly, wanting Pei Ji to see clearly what he said.
Pei Ji stared at his opening and closing lips, his thoughts drifting away inexplicably, the soft touch seemed to still linger between his lips.
Just buy it, you can buy whatever you want.
【ah? 】
He Zhiliao tugged at his sleeve, asking him not to misunderstand his words so easily.
"I know you want it. Money can't be saved." Pei Ji was pulled back to his senses by him. "Since you are here to stroll around, you must buy some things to take home. Otherwise, it would be a waste of time."
"Then I don't want to buy so much."
Pei Ji knew that he had given in, so he quickly packed up the beautiful jewelry he had liked and gave it to the store owner. He also comforted He Zhi, "If you don't want more, then buy less. I'll buy you better ones later."
He Zhiliao knew that he had already given in, so she quickly nodded in agreement. Otherwise, if he changed his mind, she would have to buy all of them.
The shopkeeper immediately packed all the things into brocade boxes with great joy, and when he sent them away respectfully, he looked at He Zhiliao as if he was looking at a boy giving away money.
This is the real God of Wealth!
Pei Ji had already asked people around him to go to the palace to report on his return to the capital. His safe return would naturally be a report to His Majesty that the Third Prince had been safely delivered.
So Emperor An immediately sent someone to summon him.
The Imperial City is His Majesty's imperial city. Ever since he returned to the city, someone has been keeping an eye on him. Seeing that he was not in a hurry to go to the palace to report important matters, but was actually wandering around with the emperor, how could he take His Majesty seriously at all?
Pei Ji sent He Zhiliao back home before riding his horse towards the palace.
Inside the Qinzheng Hall.
Pei Ji pretended to rush over, lifted his clothes and knelt, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live your Majesty."
"Hey, get up quickly. You are my younger brother, why do you need to be so polite? Your elder sister is always thinking about you in the palace. When you are free, ask your mother and Zhengjun to come to the palace to talk to her." Emperor An smiled and motioned him to get up quickly.
Pei Ji naturally wasn't going to be polite. He stood up blankly and asked suspiciously, "Your Majesty, what is the important matter that has brought me here? If it's about the Third Prince, wouldn't I have already sent someone to report it?"
"How dare you." Emperor An glanced at him, his voice sinking slightly. "You randomly found someone to fool me, while you yourself were strolling around leisurely. I haven't even started to punish you, but you're already dissatisfied?"
"No, no, please speak, Your Majesty!" Pei Ji showed a flattering smile and acted as if he was innocent and clueless.
Emperor An lowered his eyes and remained silent for a long time.
Pei Ji naturally didn't dare to speak casually. He just lowered his head slightly and didn't dare to look directly at the emperor.
"How are you getting along with the one from the He family these days?" Emperor An asked in a deep voice, as if he was just concerned about his daily life.
I feel more excited when I mention Pei Ji.
He immediately praised He Zhi a lot, from how they had been getting along since their marriage to how close they were today. He even wanted to tell Emperor An about how they held hands and kissed each other today.
"Alright, but you keep nagging me when I ask you a question." Emperor An frowned. "How can you manage the government well when you're so focused on your family?"
"Your Majesty, are you going to assign me a task?" Pei Ji's face showed joy, and his impatience was evident in his words.
Emperor An raised his eyes and stared at him, his expression neither sad nor happy.
After a moment, he replied calmly, "You care so much about that one from the He family, don't you resent me for arranging the marriage?"
Pei Ji smiled awkwardly, "I dare not."
Emperor An remained silent, knowing that he was lying.
Pei Ji had no choice but to pretend to be helpless and said, "I was resentful at first. I thought that even if I came back to be a small official, it would be a way out. I didn't expect Your Majesty to grant me a marriage. But Your Majesty must have your reasons for doing this. To be disrespectful, Your Majesty is my brother-in-law. I will not feel resentful if you suffer some grievances for my relatives."
"That's certainly disrespectful, but it's also very pleasant to the ear." Emperor An chuckled. "If you want to be an official so badly, why don't you ask your father and brothers for help? Why do you have to ask the third brother for help?"
Pei Ji suppressed the shock in his heart. How could he know even such a minor detail?
He immediately protested his innocence, not daring to hide anything, and told the whole story of what happened that day, "So this is not what I asked for. If I really wanted to ask for something, I should ask you to give me a high-ranking official position!"
"Just now you said you only wanted a small official position, but now you want a high-ranking official?" Emperor An snorted and laughed.
"Although I have military achievements, they are not outstanding. But if Your Majesty is willing to show mercy to me, it will surely be my honor." Pei Ji said.
The compliments came readily to his lips, and they pleased the listener particularly well. Even though he knew that he said them on purpose, Emperor An still felt comfortable and happy.
Emperor An then asked, "According to what you said, what do you think of the assassins you encountered on the escort route? What did the Third Brother look like?"
Pei Ji pretended not to understand his deeper meaning and only stated the most basic things. "The assassin is not a legitimate assassin. It seems like he is hiring someone to kill someone. He only has some mediocre skills and is here to scare people. As for the Third Prince, he is timid and cowardly, which undermines the majesty's authority."
"You dare to say that." Emperor An chuckled. He was not surprised by his words. It was obvious that he had known everything that had happened for a long time.
Pei Ji seemed to suddenly realize what was happening and apologized somewhat embarrassedly.
"How is the Censorate?" Emperor An asked in a deep voice.
"The Censorate? They're keeping an eye on the officials of the previous dynasty for His Majesty, but what could possibly be wrong with that?" Pei Ji was a little shocked. Meeting Emperor An's calm gaze, he was pleasantly surprised, as if a pie had fallen from the sky. "Your Majesty means..."
Emperor An nodded: "It's what you think."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Pei Ji immediately knelt down without hesitation to thank the emperor for his grace.
"I want you to enter the Censorate and hold an important position, to be my eyes, keeping an eye on the officials of the previous dynasty and the relatives of the princes." Emperor An said.
Pei Ji's face was stern and murderous, and he replied solemnly: "Your humble servant understands. Your humble servant and the Pei family are only loyal to Your Majesty and will accept His Majesty's orders."
"I'm glad you're sensible." Emperor An was pleased with his sensible attitude. "I heard you caused a scene in the city shops today just to buy jewelry for that He family girl. I'll have someone send some back to you later."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Kneel down and pay your respects."
"I will take my leave."
Peng Tongmin immediately stood up and escorted him out, congratulating him non-stop: "Your Majesty is so gracious. Little Master Pei has a bright future ahead of him."
"Then I'll take advantage of your good wishes, and I hope you can say a few good words for me from time to time." Pei Ji was not domineering at all, but rather extremely humble.
Peng Tongmin sent him away with a smile, staring at his back with a particularly meaningful look.
Pei Ji was in high spirits, with a smile on his face that never faded until he walked out of the palace. The smile on his lips gradually faded, and the calculation in his eyes was clearly visible.
It was really disgusting that he just said those disgusting words against his will, but it was what he wanted, so he had to endure this disgust.
In his previous life, he never liked to say these flattering words, but in this life he had to say them in order to achieve his goal.
He knew that Emperor An had placed him in the Censorate to test him, so if he wanted to win the emperor's favor, he had to be the most and only dog around him who was eloquent, attentive, and loyal.
He also has to be a mad dog who listens to no one but himself.
As soon as Pei Ji got home, His Majesty's rewards arrived. They were precious jades and sets of jewelry tributed from other countries. Some of the jades had fresh and elegant colors, while others were dazzling and sparkled in the sun.
"Why did His Majesty suddenly give me a reward? What did you do?" Qin Yurong asked softly, staring at Pei Ji who was kneeling on the ground, while He Zhiliao beside her was begging her with tears in his eyes.
Pei Ji told the truth.
Qin Yurong was shocked and angry, "Pei Yunzhou! When will you grow up? Why are you begging for these things when you are fine?"
"My father and brother can both serve as officials in the imperial court, but I can't? Why?" Pei Ji frowned. "Or do you have no trust in me at all and think I'm useless?"
"What did you say?" Qin Yurong frowned.
【ah! 】
He Zhiliao hurriedly knelt down with him, tugged at his sleeve worriedly, and signaled him not to say such angry words.
"Get up, this matter has nothing to do with you." Pei Ji wanted to help him up.
He Zhiliao shook his head. A husband and his wife are one body. If his husband did something wrong, he, as the ruler, would be derelict in his duty if he did not try to persuade or stop him. If his mother wanted to punish him, she should punish him as well.
Qin Yurong sneered repeatedly, "You are so capable that you even kneel down with him. If he wants to commit suicide, will you go with him? And you, Pei Yunzhou, he is sixteen years old, are you also sixteen? Why do you always do such reckless things?"
"What's wrong with becoming a high-ranking official?" Pei Ji said calmly.
He Zhiliao nodded heavily.
Yes, yes, why not!
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The author has something to say: Pei Gou: "I want to be an official!" [Angry]
Little Cicada: Okay, okay! [Hug]
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