Ten days later, in Jincheng.
In the quiet courtyard, Jiang Chuting sat behind a tea table, her expression relatively calm. Mo Lin, with his long sword clasped around his arms, stood silently by her side, his eyes slightly closed.
These past few days have been like this. Even when he's sleeping, he stays in Jiang Chuting's room, guarding him so strictly that it's as if he'll lose his life if he's not brought back.
Jiang Chuting had been sitting for a long time and her back was a little sore. Just as she was about to get up and move around, Mo Lin suddenly opened his eyes and looked towards the outside room.
Judging from the footsteps, it must be Pei Jing.
Jiang Chuting sat back down, her face still calm, but her heart skipped a beat.
Pei Jing and Lin Zhi are similar in some ways, but completely different in others. If Lin Zhi is a puppy who occasionally pretends to be a wolf and bares its teeth at you arrogantly, then Pei Jing is a wolf disguised as a puppy. Even if he shows a docile face, his nature is still bloodthirsty and ferocious, and you have to be very careful when dealing with him.
Moreover, when she left, Jiang Chuting was unaware of her own feelings and had promised Pei Jing that she would never be with Lin Zhi.
Now that his belly is big, his pregnancy can no longer be hidden. What Pei Jing will do to him when he finds out is not important, but he will definitely take action against Lin Zhi.
The door opened quickly, and Mo Lin hurriedly went to greet him: "Your Majesty."
Pei Jing's dark eyes darted around, looking at the figure that was faintly visible behind the gauze curtain, and his hands behind his back gradually tightened.
"You can leave now." Pei Jing's face showed no joy or smile.
Mo Lin hesitated for a moment, glanced at Yan Zhong out of the corner of his eye, and bowed as he withdrew.
Pei Jing approached step by step, unhurriedly, his jaw clenched, as if the person inside wasn't the one he had been longing for.
After a while, there was still no movement outside, and no one came in. But Jiang Chuting knew that he had not left.
Jiang Chuting thought for a moment and was about to get up when a pair of slender hands lifted the gauze curtain, revealing a young man dressed in moon-white casual clothes, exuding an air of arrogance and nobility.
Jiang Chuting knelt down, his knees touching the ground. He couldn't bend his body completely, so he only bowed slightly.
"This humble subject pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Pei Jing walked up to him, looked down at him for a moment, and suddenly sneered, saying, "This isn't like you. You call yourself a commoner and kneel down. Haven't you always been fearless of me? My good master, what exactly have you done wrong?"
Jiang Chuting remained calm and composed, raising her eyes to look at him quietly without saying a word.
Pei Jing was trying to control himself, but his calm and indifferent gaze ignited his anger. He knelt down in front of him, grabbed the back of his neck with one hand, forced him closer, stared at him intently, and gritted his teeth, saying, "While I was away, were you living a carefree life?! Have you forgotten what I told you back then? Huh?"
Their faces were so close that their breaths mingled. Jiang Chuting's eyes didn't flinch as she whispered, "I...haven't forgotten."
"You haven't forgotten? Then why are you still involved with him?! Do you really think that just because I'm too busy to look after you, you can act with impunity?! Who promised me that? Who was it?!"
The man before me had exquisitely handsome features, yet they were tinged with a fierce aura, and his expression was extremely gloomy, sending chills down my spine.
Judging from his reaction, he must already know some things about him and Lin Zhi.
“I did agree to your request back then.” Jiang Chuting tried to pull his hand away but failed. She sighed softly, “But what happened afterward was beyond my control.”
He never dared to imagine that he would be with Lin Zhi one day, so to avoid trouble, he simply agreed. Who could have foreseen what would happen next?
"To put it bluntly, you're just fooling me, aren't you? Only you would dare to do that." Pei Jing said angrily, "If I had known, I shouldn't have been so soft-hearted and indulged you back then. Instead, I should have locked you up somewhere."
Jiang Chuting met his murderous gaze and said softly, "Of course you can do that, but I will fight back with all my might."
Pei Jing said, word by word, "Then do you think you can resist me?"
"I don't know," Jiang Chuting answered truthfully, her eyes clear and calm, and she said firmly, "But it's worth a try."
To everyone's surprise, he wouldn't say a single kind word. Pei Jing laughed in anger, his reddened eyes turning into sharp knives, wishing he could pierce a hole in him and shut him up.
Pei Jing ultimately chose a more direct and brutal approach, biting his lips to silence him completely.
In the past, Jiang Chuting could have easily slapped him away with one palm, but now she couldn't, so she simply didn't react at all.
Before Pei Jing let go of him, he bit him hard again, looking at his icy face, his breathing extremely heavy.
Jiang Chuting lowered her head slightly and raised her hand to wipe the bloodstains from her lips.
Pei Jing wrapped his arms around his body, kissed him behind the ear, and inhaled his clean, light scent. He said in a hoarse voice, "I'm not leaving today. Actions speak louder than words. I'll settle the score with you later!"
Pei Jing suddenly stopped, slowly released his hand, and looked down hesitantly at his lower abdomen.
When he hugged her tightly just now, he felt an unusual bulge here. It didn't look like she had gained weight; her belly was hard and could not be ignored.
"...What's wrong with you?" Pei Jing reached out and touched it, confirming it wasn't his imagination. He widened his eyes slightly and asked in a softer voice, "Are you sick?"
"..." Jiang Chuting looked back at him, her lips moved, but she didn't say anything.
Pei Jing paused for a moment, then suddenly stood up and walked outside: "Mo Lin! Please summon the imperial physician."
"No need, I'm not sick."
Pei Jing turned around abruptly. Jiang Chuting's fingertips trembled. Without looking at him, she stared straight ahead and said, "I... am pregnant."
Pei Jing's pupils dilated violently, and after a long pause, he finally asked, "What did you just say?"
As night fell, the three doctors, trembling with fear, retreated cautiously, barely daring to tread lightly. Once outside, they all wiped the cold sweat from their brows, still shaken.
The atmosphere inside was absolutely terrifying; even hell couldn't compare.
Jiang Chuting lifted the bed curtains, put on his shoes, and got out of bed. Three doctors took his pulse through the bed curtains and told him everything they needed to know: he was pregnant and could not have an abortion, otherwise he would lose his life.
Looking at Pei Jing by the bedside, his face gloomy and silent, he knew this was the calm before the storm.
Pei Jing stared at him intently for a moment, then turned and strode outside.
Jiang Chuting's heart sank. She chased after him, stopped him, and knelt before him. "Your Majesty, we have already separated."
"So what?! I'm going to tear him to pieces right now!" Pei Jing brushed his hand away and walked past him.
Jiang Chuting turned around while kneeling and continued to plead, "Please let him go."
"Impossible, I want to kill you too right now! You'd better shut up and say less."
Pei Jing opened the door and was about to step out when Jiang Chuting crawled two steps on her knees and called out urgently, "Xiao Jiu!"
Pei Jing's forehead veins throbbed, his lips twitched, and his face contorted in anger; he was clearly furious, but he stopped in his tracks.
He stood still for a moment, then turned back and strode over, pulled him up, closed his eyes tightly, and asked him in a restrained tone, "You're a man, I know that very well, but why are you pregnant?"
Jiang Chuting was worried that he would leave again, so she quickly grabbed his wrist with her other hand and said with a pale face, "I don't know, it may be because of my special constitution."
Pei Jing was so angry he almost ground his teeth to powder, but the doctor had made it very clear that if he rashly aborted the child in his condition, it could very well result in the death of both the child and the baby.
They had originally planned to bring him to the palace, but now it seems that that's simply not going to work.
No matter how well you keep an eye on him, it's still no substitute for the presence of many people and his mother...
Pei Jing sneered: "As far as I know, that person got married a few months ago, and you're still protecting him?"
When this matter was brought up, Jiang Chuting's expression remained unchanged. She simply said, "Even if there was a mistake, it didn't warrant death. He and I have separated and have nothing to do with each other."
"Unrelated? Then what's in your belly?"
"It's just mine, and I won't have anything to do with him in the future."
Pei Jing was in a terrible mood and retorted sarcastically, "No involvement? I think you're just trying to distance yourself from me because you're afraid I'll cause him trouble. You're so kind and noble, so compassionate and amazing! If I were you, he would be dead by now. How could I let him live to this day?"
“It’s not what you think.” Jiang Chuting didn’t know how to tell him, so after thinking for a moment, she said, “Also, Xiao Jiu, not all problems can be solved with your life.”
Pei Jing said with a laugh, "We've only exchanged a few words, and you're already lecturing me again? Do you think I'm in the mood to listen right now?"
Not wanting to anger him further, Jiang Chuting could only say, "Fine, I won't say anything more."
Pei Jing glanced at the hand that was gripping his, then looked up and said, "I'm afraid you only force me to stay in situations like this."
Jiang Chuting blinked twice, neither speaking nor letting go.
Pei Jing stared intently at him, but slowly pulled away from his hand, then turned and left.
Jiang Chuting took two steps, but Pei Jing didn't turn around and hissed, "Don't follow me. Stay put."
And so, Jiang Chuting was trapped in Changning Pavilion, unable to go anywhere. Pei Jing didn't mistreat him; he was provided with good food and drink, and had people attending to him personally. Even though his belly had swelled up quite a bit again, no one cast an extra glance at him. During this time, he asked for pen and ink to write a letter to the Nine Heavens, briefly telling his senior brothers about his current situation. No one made things difficult for him; they even assured him that someone would deliver it to him.
When they saw Pei Jing again, it was half a month later. Accompanying him was a boy of about ten years old, with short hair tied up. When he entered the courtyard, he was still staring wide-eyed and looking around blankly.
It was Wei Jia. He seemed to be doing quite well in the Nine Heavens; his face was chubby, and he had even grown taller.
Wei Jia was distracted and walked very slowly. Pei Jing slapped him on the back of the head in disgust, and he exclaimed, "Why did you hit me!"
"That's exactly what I'm going to do, you idiot."
Wei Jia, typically clueless and fearless, angrily retorted, "You're the stupid one! You're even stupider than me!"
The guards around him almost all gasped silently. Was this guy courting death? Did he even know who he was talking to?
They were all prepared to take down this madman, but to their surprise, Pei Jing just snorted coldly.
Wei Jia narrowed her eyes again and began to question him: "You said you were taking me to eat something good, but where is the food? We haven't seen anything after walking for so long. You're not lying to me, are you?"
"You'll get your share, hurry up."
"Oh." Wei Jia finally noticed Jiang Chuting approaching, her eyes immediately lighting up as she excitedly rushed over, crying, "Master, Master, Master, Master!!!"
Before he bumped into Jiang Chuting's stomach, Pei Jing grabbed his collar. Wei Jia, confused, struggled haphazardly before Pei Jing finally put him down.
Wei Jia hugged Jiang Chuting tightly around the waist, rubbing her face against his chest, and said happily, "I missed you so much, Master! I never expected to see you here!"
Jiang Chuting hadn't expected him to come here. She gently patted his head and met Pei Jing's gaze.
Although he didn't know what method Pei Jing had used to bring Wei Jia out of the Ninth Heaven, he knew very well that Wei Jia's presence here at this moment was definitely not a good thing.
Even the slow-witted Wei Jia didn't notice anything unusual after hugging Jiang Chuting for a while, and ran to the room to explore first.
Jiang Chuting didn't beat around the bush and asked Pei Jing, "Why did you bring Wei Jia here?"
Pei Jing dusted off his sleeves and said slowly, "The Imperial Observatory told me that I might have some bad luck recently, and only by having someone to protect me from it can I completely avert it. Wei Jia just happens to fit the bill, so I issued an imperial decree to invite him over. He will take up his post tomorrow."
An imperial decree has been issued; no wonder the Nine Heavens had no choice but to release him. Senior Brother bears the heavy responsibility of the Nine Heavens; no matter how unyielding he is, he could not openly defy the decree.
To put it bluntly, Pei Jing was keeping his little apprentice in his grasp, using him as a hostage to control him.
Jiang Chuting's gaze tightened slightly, and Pei Jing chuckled again, saying, "Besides, he's always wanted to go to the palace to play. How can I, as his junior brother, not grant his wish?"
Jiang Chuting glanced back at Wei Jia, who was oblivious and still happily stuffing pastries into her mouth, and sighed silently with her eyes lowered.
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