Chapter 42: Entering the Painting. Pei Si and the actors of Yuliu Pavilion—
Moreover, the little cicada was pressing his forehead against his, could it be that he thought he was having a fever and talking nonsense?
Pei Ji snorted softly, touched the back of his neck and pressed him towards himself, pressing his lips forcefully against his.
He just has to kiss her.
He Zhiliao trembled all over at first, and then obediently let him take it, and did not forget to pat his back gently, intending to tell him not to be anxious.
Pei Ji sucked his lips and tongue, and let him go after satisfying his desire to kiss him thoroughly. He should have continued, but unfortunately this was not his study.
If his old father knew that they were doing this in his study, he would definitely chase him for three blocks with a bamboo stick and would not stop until his back was covered in blood.
"Have you picked out the books?" Pei Ji asked in a hoarse voice.
He Zhiliao immediately hugged "The Theory of National Policy of Tianqi" and "The Complete Laws of Tianqi" tightly in his arms.
Pei Ji flicked his forehead with his finger, "Let's go, then. We can't do anything bad when we get back."
He Zhiliao pursed his burning lips. Is this a bad thing?
Back in their yard, the two of them seemed to have completely released their strength. They leaned back on the couch and began to read their books.
Pei Ji crossed his legs, and something that looked like a piece of paper fell from the sole of his shoe. He frowned slightly. He didn't find anything on the way back.
For reasons he himself was unaware of, he leaned forward slightly and picked up the piece of paper.
When I took it into my palm, I found that it was a piece of burnt letter paper with some burning handwriting on it, and that handwriting was clearly from my father.
But it definitely couldn't have been written by my father himself.
It turned out that the letter had been stuffed into the secret room so long ago. My father must have discovered it when he was cleaning the study, and he burned it quietly to avoid chaos in the house.
I just didn't expect there would be any residue left. I'll have to remind my father about it later.
【ah? 】
What are you thinking about?
Pei Ji raised his hand and casually touched his cheek. His expression seemed to have relaxed, but he was still a little absent-minded.
He Zhi thought that he was angry because she was only focused on reading and not continuing to do bad things with him, so she quickly hugged his arm, forced him closer to her, and then kissed him with a pout.
oh?
Pei Ji raised his eyebrows slightly, being particularly proactive today.
He smiled and grabbed the back of his neck, kissing him back quickly and hard, his broad and warm tongue sweeping across his lips and teeth, making him feel as if he was in a whirlpool.
"Come to think of it, you should not have forgotten the day two days later?" Pei Ji held his face with one hand, his thumb gently stroking his red lips, his deep eyebrows and eyes glued to his face with lingering affection.
It was as if he couldn't wait to tear him apart and eat him, even his throat felt dry and thirsty.
He Zhiliao's face suddenly turned red, and even her eyes were a little watery because of extreme shyness.
Of course he remembered it. That day was Pei Ji's birthday. They had agreed to consummate their marriage on that day. He always remembered it.
But I still feel embarrassed when I say it suddenly.
"Just remember it." Pei Ji kissed his cheek, "If we had known each other earlier, you would have been able to attend my coming-of-age ceremony."
He Zhiliao looked a little dazed when he heard this. He and Pei Ji actually... no matter how long they had known each other, he had never been likable from the beginning. He would not like him, nor would he invite him to the coming-of-age ceremony.
Seeing his depressed expression, Pei Ji suddenly felt a little guilty. He had done something excessive to He Zhiliao in the past, and yet he could still say such words. It was good that he could let go of the past.
Pei Ji quickly apologized, "I didn't mean to bring up your sad memories. I was wrong in the past, but if there were no misunderstandings and we knew each other naturally, I wouldn't do that kind of thing."
He Zhiliao nodded very considerately, he understood everything.
Pei Ji is not a bad person by nature, but he has a spoiled and bad temper. If there had been no "forced marriage" between them, and they had met naturally, Pei Ji would not have hated him as much as he did at the beginning.
Of course, he also understood that if they really met naturally, the position of Pei Ji Zhengjun would not be his.
Therefore, although he hated the He family, he never really took advantage of Pei Ji's kindness to him to plot against the He family.
"Thank you for forgiving me." Pei Ji didn't want to talk about these sad things with him. Saying the apology over and over again was not as satisfying as taking actual action.
【ah. 】
You're welcome.
He Zhiliao smiled with his eyes curved. He no longer wanted to think about the past. He only cared about Pei Ji at this moment.
Today is a day off. After arrangement, the men of the Pei family always have a day off on the same day. Although they don’t go in and out together, they are in a good mood.
Pei Ji thought of taking He Zhiliao to stroll around the streets. After being on duty for ten consecutive days, it was not easy to have a day off, so of course they had to go out and have fun.
"Is there any place you want to go? We will have lunch in the restaurant and will be outside all day, so we should have some fun." Pei Ji asked with a smile.
He had certainly traveled extensively around the capital, but his little cicada was no exception. It had just flapped its wings to take off, so it naturally had to fly higher and farther.
I want to go to the art gallery.
If my husband wants to go, then of course he has to go.
He Zhiliao usually practices calligraphy and reads more books. Pei Ji has never seen him paint, and he doesn't know whether he wants to find a teacher to teach him how to paint.
The best painters in Tianqi were in the palace, and naturally the painters in the capital also had their own skills.
Xianyun Pavilion is a well-known art gallery in the capital. Rich men in the capital often come here to paint. There are quiet and independent studios, masters who teach painting, and masters who paint for them.
As soon as you step into Xianyun Pavilion, you will be amazed by the various paintings hanging inside.
There are light and lively wild animals in the mountains, as well as lifelike figures. Flowers and fruit trees are vividly depicted on the paper, as if they were planted on the wall.
"Do you two want to paint or learn painting?" The waiter hurried over to greet them and introduced the various paintings and studios here.
Pei Ji glanced at He Zhi and said, "Paint a picture for the two of us."
The waiter led them towards the other side of the stairs, explaining as they walked, "Our master is a little busy today, so we'd like you two to sit in the studio for a while. We've prepared some refreshments, and I'll go and ask about it later."
He Zhiliao nodded slightly at him. He had acted on a whim and had not made any prior agreement, so he should wait.
The studio is as spacious and bright as a private room. The decorations inside are also very beautiful and unique, with a light background like paper and ink, which makes people feel particularly comfortable.
He Zhiliao was attracted by a hanging scroll painting. The woman in the painting was wearing a light purple veil, but her exposed eyebrows and eyes were particularly watery and lively. What was surprising was that there was a green snake wrapped around her slender wrist.
He was so frightened that he took two steps back and bumped into Pei Ji's arms.
Pei Ji held him in his arms and explained, "I think she's from Miaojiang or the Southern Region. Both places like to raise poisonous creatures. Coiled around her head is a black snake, and her ankles are two centipedes."
He Zhiliao turned around and threw himself into his arms without looking anymore. He was most afraid of these insects and snakes. Whenever he saw one, he felt uncomfortable all over.
The two of them hugged each other as the painter from Xianyun Pavilion pushed the door open. He was an older master with gray hair, but he looked exceptionally energetic.
"Lord Pei and Lord Zheng are going to enter the painting together?" he asked in a hoarse voice.
Pei Ji said: "Is that so? Can I paint today?"
The old master looked at the two of them, pondered for a moment and said, "You can draw. Please go sit over there first."
It takes several hours to paint a picture. If it is a more delicate one, it may take several days. Therefore, it is very rare to have some free time in Xianyun Pavilion. Unexpectedly, they got an advantage today.
Pei Ji took He Zhiliao to sit down, but sitting hand in hand like this was really ordinary. How could one tell that there was affection between them?
The old master said, "If you two don't want to sit, just be casual. I only need to outline the outline for now, and I will paint in detail in private. I won't delay you."
"So that's how it is. I thought we would sit here for a few hours." Pei Ji smiled with satisfaction.
With the master's permission, the two of them did not sit on the hard chairs, but on the couch. Just like at home, they read the same book across the small table.
Although there was no intimate behavior, the aura around the two of them was natural and no one could influence or interfere with it at will. Without eye contact, everyone could tell that they were a loving couple.
The old master looked at the two of them, and his brushstrokes were particularly sharp and lingering. Even the lines that were just outlines looked exceptionally soft.
He stared at the two men again and again, and out of a painter's habit, he memorized all their characteristics in his mind.
Simple and clear outline is well drawn.
He Zhiliao was extremely satisfied. Although he had not yet started painting, he had already thought about where to hang the painting.
Pei Ji casually handed a silver ingot to the old master and said, "Thank you for your hard work. If it's not enough, just inform the servants when you deliver the painting tomorrow."
"That's enough." said the master.
He watched the two people leaving, and the old master's gaze turned to the painting of a Miao woman in the house, with kindness and gentleness in her energetic eyes.
This is the best painting he has ever made.
With Pei Ji's company, He Zhiliao had a great time. If he went out alone normally, he would always encounter people who would stop him and talk to him and argue with him. But with Pei Ji, those people no longer appeared.
On the contrary, everyone she met would greet her respectfully and then leave in a hurry. This shows that her husband is well-known and is like a god of death.
At noon, he went to Songhexuan for lunch, took a short rest in the restaurant, went to the teahouse to listen to music, and visited the study and shops... In short, as long as he was with Pei Ji, he was always in high spirits.
He was outside the whole day and returned home in the evening. When he got home, there were piles of brocade boxes, which showed how much fun he had.
Sleep at night is sweeter than usual.
On the second day, the men of the Pei family got up early and went to court as usual. Fortunately, they were close to the queen, so they had plenty of time and could go at their leisure.
As soon as Pei Ji arrived at the Censorate, Liu Linfeng came forward to greet him. He looked as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, "Did those old guys give you something?"
"Yes." Liu Linfeng was particularly embarrassed.
If he accepted those, wouldn't he be telling everyone that he, a small official, was also accepting bribes? He had finally gained face in front of Pei Ji, how could he dare to do such a thing!
Pei Ji sneered, "Where's the stuff?"
Liu Linfeng said, "They've kept all the evidence and put it away. The date and the note are clearly marked. How can I return it?"
"Why do you want to return it?" Pei Ji looked at him with a half-smile. "You are a low-ranking official. Why should they please you? Those are not bribes to you, but expressions of satisfaction to you, a drinking buddy."
The Wind in the Willows suddenly realized.
He was just a seventh-rank official, doing odd jobs in the Censorate. Even though he seemed to be working with Pei Ji, no one would really respect him, so how could they ask him to do things for them?
Besides, those officials did not dare to publicize that they had given gifts to a seventh-rank official. Wouldn’t it be a laughing stock if it were made public?
Pei Ji smiled and reminded him, "Those old guys are all good at pretending, but you also have to know the situation clearly."
"I understand." Liu Linfeng quickly agreed.
This young Lord Pei seems to be born to be an official. He can analyze people's hearts and figure out His Majesty. It seems that he has everyone firmly in his hands and is manipulating them.
Liu Linfeng naturally had to cling to his thighs, so that he could have food and clothing without worries.
Pei Ji didn't stay in the Censorate for long before he was called away by Emperor An. He knew that Emperor An would definitely summon him today, after all, he had submitted enough evidence.
"Your humble servant pays respect to Your Majesty."
"Get up."
Pei Ji stood up and stood quietly in the room, waiting for Emperor An's questions, but he didn't know whether he would be severely punished.
"I have my own decision on the matter of the Third Prince, and this matter ends here." Emperor An said in a deep voice.
The third prince is the legitimate son, so Emperor An naturally has high hopes for him. If he were to make an easy decision, it might affect the situation of the previous dynasty. The other princes have already been ready to make a move, and he does not want to upset the balance too early.
Moreover, it was an indisputable fact that the Third Prince had gone to the East to provide disaster relief. If the news of his punishment were to spread, I am afraid that the people of the world would criticize him as the monarch.
But the necessary punishment will naturally come.
Pei Ji understood that it was not that there would be no punishment, but that the time had not come yet. If one move was made, the whole body would be affected, which would cause unrest in the court.
Emperor An naturally did not want to see internal and external troubles, so he could only suppress them temporarily.
"I understand," Pei Ji responded.
Emperor An's eyes fell on him, and he carefully observed his expression. Seeing that he had no dissatisfaction or resentment, he felt somewhat satisfied.
He said, "It's good to work with you. I will reward him as appropriate. You can leave now."
"Yes, I will obey your order." Pei Ji bowed and left respectfully.
He had long thought that he would not severely punish the Third Prince, but he just suppressed his thoughts. This was beyond his expectations, which showed that the Jin family was still very solid.
Pei Ji did not dwell on this matter for too long. In this way, if the third prince wanted to attack He Zhiliao, he would have no reason to do so, and Pei Ji would instead have a firm hold on him.
Your Majesty is the ruler of the world. He will not allow anyone to cause chaos under his nose, not even his own son.
Upon learning that Pei Ji would no longer investigate corruption, many officials secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If he continued the investigation, they would probably all be in trouble.
Emperor An was particularly pleased with the award.
Jinyang was given a position in the Ministry of Justice. Although it was a minor position, the fact that he was promoted by His Majesty himself was enough to make other officials wary of him.
The day's rest time passed quickly, and He Zhiliao felt bored again. In order to relax, he thought of going to Xianyun Pavilion to get the painting in person.
As soon as they arrived at Xianyun Pavilion, they happened to meet the old master who was delivering a painting.
Haru-mi was surprised and said, "You actually went to deliver it yourself? What a coincidence that our Zheng-jun was free and just happened to come and pick it up."
The old master glanced at He Zhiliao and nodded slightly. "Both the ink and the paper need to be well cared for. I'd like to personally give them some instructions. Otherwise, the painting will become old and decayed over time."
He Zhiliao nodded and motioned for him to go to the gallery and tell her in detail.
He originally thought that the master would tell him how to maintain it, but he didn't expect that the painting had already been sealed and hung on the scroll. It was rolled up extremely carefully, and it was also opened very cautiously. Two figures appeared on the paper.
"Paintings are delicate. If hung indoors, they should only be gently brushed daily with a horsetail broom or something softer. Do not use force to avoid damage," the master said. "If placed in a cabinet, be sure to place something like camphor or papaya in it to prevent it from being infested with termites."
Harumi took these things into consideration and nodded repeatedly.
This painting is extremely well made. If it cannot be hung up, it would be a waste of the master's effort.
After receiving the painting from the master, He Zhiliao wanted to take a leisurely walk and then return home. After all, tomorrow was Pei Ji's birthday, and he had to prepare well.
Although it is not a coming-of-age party, it should be held well. We don’t plan to invite any guests, just a family gathering.
As soon as he returned to the yard, He Zhiliao carefully rolled up the scroll and placed a screen in front of the wall to block the wind that would come in when the doors and windows were opened.
"This painting is excellent. I can tell at a glance that you and your son-in-law are in perfect harmony." Chun Jian said with a smile, "I'll hang it up right away. The three of us will take care of it every day and will never let anyone else touch it."
He Zhiliao pursed her lips a little embarrassedly, and the dimples on her lips created a pool of sweetness.
"Zhengjun, the Third Prince's wife sent an invitation, inviting the noble ladies from the capital to come to the mansion to appreciate the autumn chrysanthemums today."
It's time to enjoy the flowers again.
He Zhiliao recalled what Pei Ji had said to him before. The Third Prince was so proud of his status that he would not personally embarrass him, but he could let the Third Prince's wife make things difficult for him.
He could have refused this invitation, after all, it was definitely a Hongmen Banquet, but if he didn't go, he would not have known what they were planning.
He Zhiliao took the invitation, which still had the scent of powder on it. It was written by the third prince's wife herself.
"Then we servants will accompany you," Yanhua said, "to prevent something like what happened last time at the Seventh Prince's Mansion from happening again."
He Zhiliao nodded.
He didn't think the Third Prince's wife would dare to do this, but he always had to be vigilant to prevent something worse from happening.
Xixin thought of something and took out a small paper bag from her waist. "This is the poison powder I developed. If the situation is not right, you can just sprinkle it away."
He Zhiliao held the paper bag in his hand and was a little afraid to move.
Wouldn't this thing really hurt him?
He carefully wrapped the paper bag in a handkerchief and stuffed it into his sleeve, which made him feel much more at ease.
After packing up a little, He Zhiliao took them to the Third Prince's Mansion, and the Third Princess stood in front of the mansion door to greet them personally. When he arrived, many young ladies had already walked in with smiles on their faces.
At least it was a real party.
"Greetings to the Third Imperial Concubine." Chun Jian stood behind He Zhiliao and saluted.
When the Third Princess saw He Zhile coming, she immediately went to greet him with a smile. There was a calm smile on her dignified and bright face. She helped He Zhile up, held his hand, and kept looking at him.
"I rarely saw you before, so I didn't know you were so pretty and beautiful. You should go out more often in the future and don't let things between men affect our relationship." The Third Princess smiled and invited him in. She didn't have time to greet the guests who came after her.
He Zhiliao had a polite smile on his face. His mother once said that if you can't tell the difference between good and evil for the time being, just smile politely.
Pots of chrysanthemums of various colors are placed in the spacious courtyard. Each chrysanthemum is bigger than the face and blooms exceptionally vigorously and beautifully. When swaying in the breeze, it seems to carry a hint of melancholy.
"It took a lot of effort to get these chrysanthemums. Fortunately, they are well maintained in the greenhouse, otherwise we would not be able to see such a magnificent sight." The Third Princess said with a smile.
Even though He Zhiliao's gaze fell on the flowers, he could sense that the gazes of those wealthy men were on him. Although he didn't know what the Third Imperial Concubine's intentions were, he had not yet sensed any malicious intent at this moment.
Seeing him engrossed in the chrysanthemums, the Third Princess patted his hands and said to the invited guests with a smile, "Tea and snacks are already prepared in the courtyard. Please don't be polite and enjoy the chrysanthemums to your heart's content."
"Thank you, Third Princess."
He Zhiliao also bowed slightly.
The Third Princess smiled at him and led him to the small pavilion in front. Under the pavilion was a pond with red and gold koi in it. Each one was plump, showing that they were well-fed.
"I apologize for being rude to you today, but I mean no harm. On the contrary, I want to thank you." The Third Princess said with a hint of emotion, "I know a little about what Your Highness has done, but as a woman, it's difficult for me to interfere in what men do in the court. This time, I've relied on your husband's help to keep you safe."
He Zhiliao shook his head slightly. He could only pretend to be ignorant of these things.
The Third Imperial Concubine smiled and said, "The powerful people in the capital all know that you and Pei Si have a deep friendship. It is really enviable. But you should hurry up. A man is bound to have three wives and four concubines. You should stabilize your position as soon as possible."
He Zhiliao lowered his eyes slightly and smiled sadly.
On the one hand, she knows that they are deeply in love, and on the other hand, she says that men prefer to have three wives and four concubines. Isn't this stabbing him in the back?
If it were someone else, Chun Jian would have spoken other words long ago, but the person in front of him was the third imperial concubine, who had a legitimate grandson of the royal family and a noble status.
"I know you're sad, but don't blame me for being nosy. Pei Si is a playboy, and who knew he didn't have any concubines? If he brings back a girl and a child one day, how will you cope in the Pei family?"
"Besides, I've seen it before. That Pei Si and the actors from Yuliu Pavilion—ah, look at me, I'm telling you all this."
The Third Princess spoke with exceptional sincerity, as if she was genuinely considering him, and the hesitation in the last sentence was even more telling.
Even though He Zhiliao trusted Pei Ji, he was almost scared by her expression. Looking at her words and expression, it seemed like the truth.
He Zhiliao gave Chun Jian and the others a subtle wink, and Chun Jian immediately asked angrily, "I wonder if what the Third Imperial Concubine said is true?"
The Third Princess nodded awkwardly, lowered her eyes to hide the emotions in them, and drank her tea slowly.
Chun Jian said angrily, "It's a pity that our Zhengjun treats you so sincerely. It's only been a short time since we got married, and you're already so impatient that you want to bring someone to your house! Young Master, your kindness is really in vain. I feel really sorry for you."
Under normal circumstances, if she dared to make a noise in front of her, the Third Princess would have taken her away and beaten her to death with sticks.
But the ones making trouble this time were the servants of Pei Mansion, so she felt a little relieved.
He Zhiliao sighed silently with a bitter look on his face, as if he had already determined that Pei Ji was such a heartless and ungrateful person.
The Third Princess put down her teacup and sighed softly, "All men in the world are like this. Luckily, I gave birth to a child first, otherwise those concubines would have come after me. Please have dinner at my house, and I'll have some wine with you so we can have a good chat!"
"This... Zhengjun didn't inform the mansion when he came out. I think we have to send someone back to inform the mansion." Chunjian said hesitantly.
"This is a simple matter. I will just send someone over!"
-----------------------
The author has something to say: Pei Gouzi: "Who! Who is spreading rumors about me again?!" [Angry]
The little cicada patted his chest and said: Husband, I don’t believe it~ [laughing]
(Thank you for the nutrient solution, I will give you some in the next two days~ [heart eyes])
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