Chapter 31
After applying the medicine, Qi Yu got up and changed her clothes.
This time it's a simple peach-pink blouse with silver and vermilion accents. There's a palm-sized round jade piece in the center of the waist, carved with two swimming fish.
It made her appear even more graceful and beautiful.
After they moved into Hengwu Courtyard, they added many things to the house, from small items like incense burners and tea sets to large items like bath tubs and tables and chairs.
And she was never short of clothes or jewelry.
Qi Yu assumed it was the servants who were handling it, so she didn't pay any attention.
She emerged from behind the screen and saw Pei Jin casually brewing two cups of tea, his movements fluid and pleasing to the eye. She picked up one cup and took a sip.
Pei Jin's gaze fell on Qi Yu for a moment, and his eyes flickered slightly. He knew that Qi Yu was dressed in a way that suited her.
Qi Yu was a concubine before, so even if she ended up in the Pei family, there was no reason for her to be wronged.
Pei Jin had not been on duty for the past few days, only being suddenly summoned to the government office last night to work on a case for a while. Even so, he still sensed the turbulent situation in the capital, with all the ministers watching the palace.
His Majesty has not shown his face for three days, and no news has come from the palace, so naturally people are restless.
Moreover, when His Majesty ascended the throne, there was a shortage of capable officials, so he appointed many former officials. His Majesty did not care which of His Majesty's brothers these former officials had served, but only whether their performance could help him share the burden.
Therefore, even after five years, the people in the court were still not united.
His Majesty turned a blind eye to this, and he would forgive as long as it did not interfere with state affairs.
However, this move undoubtedly fostered the ambitions of some ministers. People who are capable of great things are not necessarily righteous. Having been in high positions for a long time without ever witnessing His Majesty's ruthless methods, they were promoted to important posts and naturally believed that His Majesty needed them and that they were the ones who made His Majesty who he is today.
No matter how respectful they appear on the surface, they may still regard His Majesty as the former Seventh Prince in their hearts.
Moreover, the two imperial examinations held after His Majesty ascended the throne have already unearthed many talents for the court. Now there are many new nobles in the court, and His Majesty intends to promote them vigorously. With new people taking up positions, the old ministers naturally feel increasingly powerless.
How could this not make people anxious?
Pei Jin thought of a hidden figure in the capital: the heir apparent of the Prince of Ning.
Prince Ning is His Majesty's eldest brother, and as the eldest son, he was granted the title of Prince Ning at the age of twenty and lived in the Prince Ning Mansion in the capital.
Because Prince Ning is much older than His Majesty, he naturally won over the ministers early on and was determined to seize the throne.
However, Prince Ning died in the same year that Prince Qi rebelled. He led his troops outside the capital to resist Prince Qi, but was trampled to death under the hooves of Prince Qi's horse. His death was gruesome, and then the capital was captured.
After His Majesty entered the capital, he only ordered people to collect the remains of Prince Ning and place them in the ancestral temple, ignoring the family left behind by Prince Ning.
Therefore, Prince Ning is still the heir apparent, but his Wu clan bloodline is beyond doubt.
Pei Jin was an official in the court, and based on the information he had gathered, the heir apparent of the Prince of Ning was suspected of having an affair with a minister.
His Majesty has only been absent from public view for three days now, and others have some suspicions but dare not act rashly. But what if he doesn't show his face for nine or ten days?
Pei Jin thought that His Majesty was fine, and had even left the palace to see Qi Yu. As for why His Majesty did not show up, perhaps His Majesty wanted to take this opportunity to cast a wide net.
His Majesty's thoughts are mysterious and unpredictable; even Pei Jin is now somewhat unable to fathom them.
After finishing his tea, Pei Jin said, "Madam, I'll be going out of the manor this afternoon."
He went to deal with the person who played the flute at night.
Qi Yu nodded and told Pei Jin to take an umbrella. Although there was no sign of rain, Pei Jin's friend had said that it would rain in the next couple of days.
We should still listen to what the Imperial Observatory says.
Pei Jin took the umbrella and left with his men.
Not long after Pei Jin left, the Pei family steward came with account books: "Madam, this is the household's expenses and income for the past month, including the shops in the capital..."
Qi Yu sat in a grand chair, supporting her head. In front of her was a long table with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
The thick ledger was placed in the middle, and she flipped through it page by page.
Unexpectedly, even upon arriving at the Pei residence, he couldn't escape the fate of having to examine the account books.
With Pei Jin away, Qi Yu had no choice but to do everything herself, and the extravagance of the Pei family mansion gradually unfolded before her eyes.
In the palace.
Zhao Wanyi declined Pei Jiu's suggestion that she rest, and instead led her around the palace.
When she woke up, she found that the gold hairpin was missing. She still found it unbelievable that she had acted rashly by jumping into the water to save Qi Yu that day.
Knowing he wasn't a good swimmer, he still jumped into the water.
However, that's precisely why she didn't expose herself to Wu Shiyan.
Zhao Wanyi didn't think she could kill Wu Shiyan with a gold hairpin that day. After seeing Wu Shiyan kill people, she understood why so many people wanted to kill him, one after another, but still failed.
This matter must be dealt with gradually.
In addition, Zhao Wanyi also subtly inquired about Qi Yu's daily habits from the palace servants of Zhaoyang Palace. The more she learned, the faster her heart beat. Even Pei Jiu could feel her concern for Qi Yu.
So she gave up on that idea and decided to familiarize herself with the palace first.
Although she frequently entered the palace, she mostly visited the Empress Dowager's Changxin Palace and never ventured to other places.
As for the emperor's bedroom, after Zhao Wanyi woke up, Pei Jiu foolishly told her everything, warning her not to make any mistakes, otherwise the fact that the empress was not in the palace but in a minister's residence would not be kept secret, which would harm the empress's reputation.
Furthermore, Tian Wenshan was also involved. Tian Wenshan controlled the palace and knew exactly who she was. Even if she wanted to appear in front of Wu Shiyan while he was seriously injured, she couldn't.
However, being able to enter the palace is already much better than before.
-
Pei Jin returned in the evening. Qi Yu was just about to rest and was about to ask Qiu Kui to turn off the light when Pei Jin came in, bringing with him a night breeze.
Hearing the commotion, Qi Yu looked towards Pei Jin.
Pei Jin asked, "Is Madam still awake?"
Qi Yu stood up: "I was just about to go to sleep."
Pei Jin said gently, "I'm going to the study to take care of some things. Madam, please go to sleep first."
In reality, nothing was wrong. He discovered that the house next door was registered under the name of Bo Xingzhou, the emperor's brother-in-law. Bo Xingzhou was the emperor's birth mother's younger brother. The Bo family was small, and now only the emperor's brother-in-law remained.
Because Bo Xingzhou was three years younger than His Majesty, he was often called the "Little Imperial Brother-in-Law".
His Majesty has very little open contact with the young imperial brother-in-law, and Bo Xingzhou is also low-key, making it hard for people to think of him. However, if we were to talk about the person His Majesty trusts the most, it would undoubtedly be Bo Xingzhou.
The house is registered under Bo Xingzhou's name, but it would be more appropriate to say it belongs to His Majesty.
The person who played the flute last night has now been identified.
Whatever His Majesty wants to do, there's nothing anyone can do about it.
Upon learning this, Pei Jin sat quietly for a while, then sent someone to request a few more days of leave, and instructed the steward to stop any officials who came to visit.
He did not wish to get involved in the recent events in the capital.
When Pei Jin mentioned the study, Qi Yu's heart skipped a beat; there was only one study in Hengwu Courtyard.
She advised, "It's late at night. If Pei Lang goes to the study, there will be no one to take care of him. If the matter is not so urgent, it would be better to handle it in the room. I can even serve Pei Lang with writing materials."
Qi Yu stood there, looking at Pei Jin with gentle eyes and clear gaze.
It's hard to refuse.
Pei Jin knew that Qi Yu had a purpose in everything she did for him, so after a little thought, he understood.
Pei Jin's face fell: "Okay."
He turned and went to the table and chairs where Qi Yu had been handling the accounts that afternoon.
Qi Yu quietly followed, but Pei Jin was so engrossed in his own emotions that he didn't notice her until a pair of soft hands came into view, slowly grinding ink for him, at which point he paused slightly.
Qi Yu lowered her head quietly, her expression gentle and earnest.
It's so infuriating... Pei Jin sighed inwardly and pressed Qi Yu's hand down: "Go to sleep."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yu agreed without hesitation, subtly withdrawing her hand and smilingly looking at Pei Jin: "Pei Lang, you should also go to sleep early and not overwork yourself."
Pei Jin had lost his temper.
After Qi Yu left, Pei Jin sat down in a chair and calmly began to write the article from memory.
Two hours later, Pei Jin packed up his things and prepared to make do on the bed for the night. He habitually glanced at Qi Yu.
Qi Yu couldn't fall asleep. She didn't know what was wrong with her body. Her waist was sore and weak, and she felt slightly hot. Her mind was also unsettled, as if there was a thorn in it, making it impossible for her to sleep.
She closed her eyes, her breathing erratic, her face flushed like a delicious apple, and a thin layer of sweat seeped from her cheeks and the tip of her nose.
Unbeknownst to Qi Yu herself, she was resisting the restlessness in her heart.
Pei Jin paused, his tone hesitant: "Madam?"
Qi Yu doesn't look like she's sick.
Qi Yu opened her eyes, which were glistening with tears, making her look quite pitiful. She sat up, closed her eyes, and sighed, "Pei Jin, what did you give me to drink?"
She drank the tea brewed by Pei Jin that afternoon.
She ate okra with dinner, so there couldn't be a problem.
Pei Jin stepped forward to support Qi Yu and calmly said, "It's just tea made with hot water."
He learned his tea-making skills from his father, and since he happened to have teaware on hand today, and couldn't calm down, he brewed two cups of tea.
Pei Jin: "I also drank that tea."
Qi Yu no longer wanted to hear what Pei Jin had to say. The moment Pei Jin helped her up, even through the soft nightgown, she felt a cool sensation from the outside in, as if a clear spring had flowed into her body, extinguishing the small flame that had inexplicably risen in her heart.
Qi Yu was convinced that the problem lay with the tea. Confused, she asked, "Why does this tea affect women but not men?"
She silently gripped Pei Jin's hand in return, and even had the urge to lean into his arms.
She closed her eyes and suppressed her emotions.
Pei Jin didn't know how to explain, because he was unaffected, which gave him the opportunity to carefully examine Qi Yu.
A few teardrops clung to her curled eyelashes, her cheeks were soft and flushed, and her lips were as red as the juice of crushed flower petals. She was exceptionally beautiful even without makeup.
Moreover, Qi Yu seemed to really enjoy touching him at this moment. Her hand on the back of his hand was pressed tighter than usual, and he could clearly feel that her palm was sweaty. Even though it was damp, she didn't let go.
I had just avoided his hand.
Pei Jin tentatively pulled Qi Yu into his arms.
Qi Yu froze for a moment, but gradually relaxed, though she still had worries in her heart.
Can't……
Pei Jin's nose was filled with the fragrance of Qi Yu's hair. He said in a very soft voice, "Is Madam still complaining about my impotence?"
Qi Yu, ignoring the heat radiating from her body, opened her eyes wide in shock.
!!
Startled, the hand that was holding Pei Jin's clothes suddenly lost its grip, and she fell into Pei Jin's arms, her ear pressed against his chest, listening to Pei Jin's strong heartbeat.
Qi Yu's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible: "No."
She couldn't bear to hurt the man's fragile heart.
Pei Jin asked, "Then why has Madam refused to share a bed with me since our marriage?"
Qi Yu's mouth was slightly open.
No wonder Zhao Wanyi and Pei Jin sometimes have such a tense atmosphere.
Pei Jin really let Zhao Wanyi down.
Never mind, never mind, now any man is a refreshing medicine for Qi Yu.
What could she possibly complain about at this point?
Qi Yu clung to Pei Jin, boldly pressing her face against his neck, and let out a long sigh: "I am willing."
Qi Yu's warm breath sprayed onto Pei Jin's skin, and that spot on his skin instantly turned red.
Pei Jin took off his clothes and threw them on the ground. He then pulled Qi Yu into his arms and gently patted her back.
As for Qi Yu, with a large area of her skin pressed against Pei Jin, she finally felt comfortable. Her back no longer ached, and her heart no longer felt hot. Like a cat that had found catnip, she pressed herself against Pei Jin freely.
She can finally get a good night's sleep!
Pei Jin's aura was as light and delicate as bamboo.
With this thought in mind, Qi Yu quickly fell asleep.
The strange sensations surrounding Qi Yu subsided the next morning, but she hadn't considered this possibility because something was pressing against her.
The morning light was bright outside, but Pei Jin didn't know when he had fallen asleep and hadn't woken up yet.
Qi Yu lowered her head, looking for the thing pressing against her. Because Pei Jin had said he was impotent, she hadn't thought of it that way. When she realized what it was, she was like a boiled shrimp, and quickly withdrew from Pei Jin's arms.
She slept in a thin nightgown, only revealing the skin around her collarbone. She didn't take it off until Pei Jin got into bed, and couldn't wait to snuggle into his arms.
Pei Jin, whose figure was covered by the blanket, had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, with well-defined but not muscular abs. He had slept with his clothes off, which was why she could snuggle against him so comfortably.
That's not the point. The point is, Pei Jin... is not impotent at all, as he claims.
Pei Jin woke up when Qi Yu left his arms. He didn't remember when he went to sleep last night, but it was very late. He had been looking at Qi Yu for a long time, so his reaction was a little slow after waking up.
He figured out the situation and gently covered himself with the blanket.
It's not that we should be supporting them earlier or later, but we have to be supporting them now.
Pei Jin said calmly, "After meeting Madam, I actually recovered."
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