Chapter 32
Qi Yu's facial temperature dropped slightly.
She actually started to consider this possibility, following Pei Jin's words. After all, he was the female lead's husband. If he had no flaws, how could the female lead have changed her mind?
Furthermore, in order to ensure that men remain chaste, it is quite common for someone who is impotent to only have an erection with one person.
However, Pei Jin's lack of virginity is probably to ensure that the female lead remains chaste.
However… this argument is just too awful. Qi Yu wanted to sneer, but then she thought about her status as Madam Pei. Facing her husband finally getting married, crying tears of joy would be the least of her worries.
Qi Yu smiled slightly: "Really? Congratulations, Pei Lang."
Pei Jin paused for a moment, then said, "Congratulations to you too."
Qi Yu blinked and instantly understood Pei Jin's meaning.
The temperature on my face, which had just dropped, started to rise again.
After saying this, Pei Jin got up, picked up the clothes on the rack, and went to bathe and change.
Qi Yu lay back down on the bed, lost in thought.
The morning's incident seemed to have left no trace on either of them. After their meal, Qi Yu and Pei Jin sat under the wooden trellis in the courtyard, enjoying tea.
Pei Jin took out the tea set he used to brew tea yesterday and brewed two more cups.
Qi Yu was somewhat afraid of this stuff, and seeing that Pei Jin had finished his cup, she didn't touch hers either.
She mainly wanted to verify whether last night's strange occurrences were related to tea.
Let's see if there are any other physical problems if we don't drink tea.
Qi Yu is usually quick-witted, and with Lin Qi by her side, it would be extremely difficult for anyone to switch the food she eats.
Moreover, they had very little contact with people and things while they were in Hengwu Academy.
Pei Jin had even less reason to do such a thing. Yesterday, she only felt that Pei Jin's body was very attractive, but she could have endured it even without Pei Jin.
Qi Yu held the teacup and sighed softly.
It was alright at night; her falling on Pei Jin didn't seem so abrupt. But if it were daytime, she would be incredibly embarrassed.
Qi Yu thought calmly.
Pei Jin said, "Don't worry, I'll send someone to fetch a doctor."
Qi Yu did look like she had been poisoned by something bad last night, but how could such a drug have gotten into the Pei residence?
Of all the people she's been in contact with recently, only His Majesty could be the one to do this.
And the timing also matches up.
Pei Jin had wondered why His Majesty had met Qi Yu but hadn't taken her away. If he had been told, he would have certainly covered it up to prevent the news from leaking out.
The only possibility is that His Majesty would entrust Qi Yu to the Pei residence with such peace of mind—he sees Qi Yu merely as a caged bird.
When the mood strikes, they might tease it for a bit, but when they lose interest, they'll let it go.
Therefore, she didn't care how lost and confused she would be at the Pei residence.
Pei Jin had seen too many playboys who didn't treat women like human beings. They would give the women who followed them some aphrodisiacs just to have more pleasure.
Seeing Qi Yu still pondering where the problem lay, seemingly oblivious, Pei Jin's expression turned grim.
He didn't want to be suspicious of the Emperor; he just felt that he couldn't treat the Consort this way.
Qi Yu thought for a moment and realized that asking a doctor was the only option, so she nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Pei Lang."
"It's nothing, it's what I should do."
Before the doctor arrived, the kitchen sent over some pastries.
Before Qi Yu could ask, Qiu Kui quickly replied, "The pastries were prepared by the kitchen at the master's instruction."
Okra smiled, pleased that the adult was so considerate of his wife.
Qi Yu looked at Pei Jin and saw that he looked normal, so she ate two pieces. They were sweet but not cloying, which suited her taste perfectly.
A moment later, a servant came in to report that Doctor Meng had arrived.
Qi Yu got up and went to the outer room, with Pei Jin a few steps behind.
As Pei Jin reached out to help Qi Yu sit down, Meng She also came in carrying a box.
He happened to see Pei Jin standing next to Qi Yu, lightly supporting Qi Yu's shoulder.
Their movements were intimate and natural, like those of a perfect couple.
Meng She paused, realizing something was amiss.
Yesterday, His Majesty suddenly became very easy to talk to. However, in the morning, His Majesty left for a short time, which was probably only enough time to stay at the Pei residence for a while.
It goes without saying who he was going to see at the Pei residence; he couldn't possibly be concerned with state affairs and reprimand his ministers while he was out of the palace.
Meng She then recounted how the Imperial Concubine had taken the antidote. He dared not conceal anything and explained all the twists and turns in the process, quietly awaiting His Majesty's judgment.
His Majesty simply replied, "Three to five days?"
Two days have passed now.
Before Meng She left the residence today, His Majesty's residence had already been decorated. Who would have thought that the seemingly quiet and secluded mansion would be completely decorated in red in the main courtyard, resembling a grand wedding scene?
Qi Yu was also surprised to see Meng She.
It turned out to be Meng She.
Shouldn't he be by Wu Shiyan's side?
Qi Yu looked at Pei Jin, who said, "Doctor Meng, I'll have to trouble you again this time. My wife is feeling unwell; I don't know what she touched."
Qi Yu cooperated by extending her hand, and Qiu Kui took out a clean handkerchief and placed it on her wrist.
She lowered her eyes slightly, pondering Meng She's purpose in coming. He had visited the Pei residence more than once. Two days ago, he should have come to the Pei residence to treat her illness, but at that time Wu Shiyan was still asleep in the palace, so it was impossible for Wu Shiyan to have given the order.
However, Qi Yu knew very little about Meng She, having only met him once at the Wenshi Palace.
Naturally, he couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried.
Meng She sat down; he could only pretend not to recognize the Imperial Concubine.
He felt that if His Majesty didn't become more assertive and continued to keep the Consort in the Pei residence, she would really be devoured by that Pei fellow.
Meng She reached out to take Qi Yu's pulse.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths.
Meng She stiffly removed his hand, gripping his beard. In those three short breaths, it felt like an eternity. How could he not have thought that since the Flower of Breaking Calamity needed to enter the body to be effective, it would inevitably affect a person's health?
Changes in the body are inevitable.
Meng She was sweating profusely, but because of his serious expression, no one noticed his guilty conscience.
Pei Jin's heart tightened. Was it really that hard to solve?
Meng She said to Pei Jin, "Could I speak with Madam alone?"
Pei Jin looked at Qi Yu and, seeing that she didn't object, said, "Okay."
Qi Yu withdrew her hand, letting Qiu Kui leave as well.
Pei Jin and Qiu Kui left one after the other, and Meng She couldn't wait to whisper and cry out, "Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine!"
Qi Yu was surprised: "You recognized me?"
She thought that only Wu Shiyan knew she was at the Pei residence.
Meng She said, "I didn't recognize it at first. It was only after Tian Wenshan pointed it out that I realized it. So the decoction of the Po'e flower, which was originally meant for Madam Pei, was given to you by Lord Pei the night after you fell into the water. I went to the Pei residence to examine your pulse and said it was a medicine to dispel the cold."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yu understood why Wu Shiyan had come looking for her; it turned out that she had mistakenly taken the medicine that was meant for Zhao Wanyi.
There's probably only one dose of this antidote, and once it's used, it's gone.
Wu Shiyan had no choice but to come.
But... this antidote shouldn't require biting there to work, right?
Even though a day had passed, Qi Yu still felt uneasy thinking about what happened in the study yesterday; the skin on her body felt like it was burning up.
Meng She decided to keep what His Majesty was doing a secret. After all, in addition to arranging the main courtyard, His Majesty had also secretly summoned Xiao Cong and the generals who guarded the palace. Those people were the ones who had helped His Majesty quell the rebellion.
If the Imperial Concubine were to suddenly decide to go and see for herself, it would be unfortunate if Her Majesty treated her poorly.
Moreover, without His Majesty's order, he dared not expose the matter; it would be better for His Majesty to speak to the Empress in person.
Qi Yu asked, "So the changes in my body are because I drank that flower?"
Meng She: "Yes."
"But after Your Majesty and His Majesty are cured of the poison, Your Majesty's health will be better than that of an ordinary person."
No more getting sick from a gust of wind; even hidden injuries can be treated at the same time.
Qi Yu knew this. When she overheard them discussing it in the Warmth Palace, she asked directly, "When will Your Majesty be free, or rather, when will my next attack occur?"
Meng She said dejectedly, "Your humble servant does not know."
He also holds an official position, but he only follows His Majesty and does not easily reveal his identity to others.
Qi Yu invited Meng She to have tea and discussed with him what to say. Meng She then opened the door and told Pei Jin what he had prepared to say.
Pei Jin was multitasking, listening to Doctor Meng's words while keeping an eye on the person sitting in the chair fiddling with their teacup.
After having his servants see Doctor Meng off, Pei Jin went inside and said to Qi Yu, "Doctor Meng said there's nothing serious, just be careful with your diet from now on."
Qi Yu nodded, a faint smile on her lips, a hint of seriousness in her eyes, but it quickly faded.
She can only take it one step at a time.
However, she is not someone who can suppress her feelings. If she has another outburst, it's fine if Wu Shiyan is by her side, but if Wu Shiyan is not there, she cannot force herself to get through it.
Pei Jin felt that Qi Yu was not feeling well at the moment, so he said, "I want to go to sleep for a while, Madam, please stay with me."
Qi Yu asked, puzzled, "I'm not sleepy."
Pei Jin said in a serious tone, "I can't sleep without my wife by my side."
Qi Yu was puzzled. Didn't Pei Jin say yesterday that they hadn't slept in the same bed? If you count, they only slept together once yesterday.
She said she can't sleep well without her.
Before Qi Yu could refuse, Pei Jin said again, "Madam, I'm sleepy."
He moved closer to Qi Yu, and Qi Yu smelled the fresh scent of bamboo leaves on him again.
She thought that bamboo was most likely planted in the places where Pei Jinshang was on duty or lived.
Qi Yu was led to the bed by Pei Jin, who held her wrist. Qiu Kui then lowered the bedroom curtains and left.
Pei Jin untied the bed curtains and, out of the corner of his eye, saw that Qi Yu had already gotten into bed and found a place to lie down, looking incredibly obedient. He felt very pleased.
Qi Yu hadn't intended to sleep, but she felt drowsy as soon as she lay down, her eyelids heavy. This was normal, though, as she'd slept two hours less last night…
When Pei Jin went to check on Qi Yu again, he found that the person who had said she wasn't sleepy was now clutching the corner of the blanket and had fallen asleep with even breathing.
Pei Jin was speechless, didn't touch Qi Yu, and went to sleep as well.
Okra didn't come in to disturb them; she waited outside, ready to be instructed at any time.
But Hengwu Courtyard was too secluded, and a gentle breeze was blowing in the courtyard at this time, so she unknowingly dozed off.
She was awakened by the sound of sobbing inside the room; it was the lady's voice.
In addition, adults were gently coaxing her; Okra had never heard adults coax her so gently before.
Okra quickly asked, "Sir, Madam, may I go in?"
Qi Yu, clutching the blanket inside the room, shook her head. Pei Jin said, "No need, you can go downstairs now."
Okra obeyed and left, but kept looking back, her heart filled with worry.
On the bed in the bedroom, Qi Yu lay face down, her eyes blurry with tears, her face flushed and streaked with water.
She hadn't expected the second attack to come so quickly and so intensely, leaving her completely defenseless and only wanting to stop the itch...
She gripped the blanket with one hand and reached under it with the other, her watery eyes looking at Pei Jin.
Pei Jin was handsome and had the demeanor of a gentleman. Now, knowing full well what she was doing, his disheveled appearance stirred something within one's heart.
Qi Yu's will was never firm, and Pei Jin's appearance was the best comfort for her.
Qi Yu closed her eyes and slightly despised herself.
Seeing this, Pei Jin restrained himself and said, "Madam, let me help you."
Pei Jin's hands look very skilled, and his lips are also quite nice, but Qi Yu doesn't want to use him, since she's not his real wife.
But it's so frustrating; trying to fix it myself doesn't work at all.
Qi Yu's black hair cascaded down her back, and her face, which was showing signs of breaking down due to her emotions, looked extremely alluring. No one could resist being captivated by her.
Qi Yu's eyes went unfocused, and she said in a very soft and indifferent voice, "You're not allowed to use your hands, your lips, or even your...thing. Want to try again?"
Pei Jin heard himself clearly answer: "Come."
Qi Yu was extremely surprised, but she couldn't think calmly at all; she just wanted to put out the fire.
Pei Jin left, then quickly returned, revealing a cylindrical jade seal in his hand, adorned with tassels.
Pei Jin said, "This is a jade seal that I carved myself when I was a child, when I was writing an essay."
Back then, he was so small that he could barely hold it in one hand, but now when he takes it out and holds it in his hand, it's like something to relieve boredom.
But it's also something to relieve boredom.
Pei Jin bent down and kissed Qi Yu's lips, his calmness contrasting sharply with Qi Yu's fiery passion.
Although the jade tablet had been held in Pei Jin's hand for a while, it was still so cold that it made Qi Yu shiver when it touched her skin.
Qi Yu's eyes were unfocused. She grabbed a strand of Pei Jin's hair with one hand and gently pulled it down whenever he tried to get up.
It's not over yet, Pei Lang.
...
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