These past few days, Lu Xiuyuan has been leaving early and returning late every day.
Shang Huai would ask Pei Zhi out every day.
I went out to fly a kite today, just to enjoy the fresh air.
Tomorrow, we'll go out for a spring outing.
Pei Zhi didn't notice Lu Xiuyuan's unusual behavior either.
Whether by coincidence or not, Lu's mother always managed to spot Pei Zhi following Shang Huai out the door.
Lu's mother was so angry that her face turned ashen, but she didn't dare to rush out and yell at him.
She's eating and living in Pei Zhi's place now.
In case Pei Zhi is a distant relative, a cousin.
In the end, she will be the one who is in the wrong.
Lu's mother saw this and was truly furious.
I just plan to keep a closer eye on things from now on.
If their relationship is truly abnormal, she will definitely be able to find some clues.
That day, Shang Huai arrived early in the morning, carrying a hot roast chicken in his arms.
"Quickly, quickly, put it on a plate, and heat up a pot of wine too." Shang Huai handed the roast chicken to the servant and instructed him.
Pei Zhi was tending to the flowers in the yard. "Why did you bring a roast chicken so early in the morning?"
Shang Huai said, feeling wronged, "Didn't you say you wanted to eat this before?"
Pei Zhi noticed the markings on the oil paper wrapping the roast chicken and then remembered.
A few days ago, Pei Zhi and Shang Huai passed by Zhang's shop.
The shop was tightly shut even in broad daylight.
Pei Zhi said, "I wonder just how delicious Zhang's roast chicken really is."
They're not cheap, and there's a daily limit on the quantity.
As a result, people still lined up early in the morning to buy it.
If you go too late, you won't be able to buy any.
If Pei Zhi really wanted to eat it, she could have had her servants line up.
Pei Zhi was just curious about the taste, but she didn't really want to eat it.
"I just mentioned it casually, how did you remember it?"
Shang Huai snorted, "No matter what you say, I will remember it."
"Bring us bowls and chopsticks, let's eat while it's hot."
Pei Zhi looked up at the sky. "But it's not even noon yet. How can we eat roast chicken?"
"As long as it tastes good, I can eat it anytime."
Pei Zhi thought Shang Huai's words made a lot of sense, so he sat down at the same table with Shang Huai.
Shang Huai poured Pei Zhi a glass of wine, and Pei Zhi tasted a piece of roast chicken and couldn't help but nod.
"It tastes good, the chicken is very tender, it doesn't seem like it's from a farm."
The chicken is incredibly tender; you can't get this flavor from chickens raised at home.
Shang Huai also tried a piece. "This meat, doesn't it look like the wild pheasant we caught in the mountains before?"
Pei Zhi recalled for a moment, "Their cooking is better than yours."
Shang Huai didn't argue, "Of course, Zhang's is an old brand."
Pei Zhi was worried that they wouldn't be able to finish the food, but Shang Huai had a good appetite.
Pei Zhi ate some, but couldn't eat anymore; the rest went into Shang Huai's stomach.
The two of them finished off a whole pot of wine.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Pei Zhi took Shang Huai to see the pond that had been cleaned up in the courtyard.
The house was uninhabited before, and the pond was abandoned.
After Pei Zhi moved in, there were many things to do at home, but she finally had some time to tidy up.
"There are some fish inside, as well as some transplanted lotus flowers, which should bloom next year, and lotus roots as well."
Pei Zhi pointed at Shang Huai and said, "I'll invite you to my residence next year to eat lotus root."
As Shang Huai listened to Pei Zhi talk about next year, he felt a bitter feeling inexplicably in his heart.
When Shang Huai returned to the capital, his father gave him many instructions and advice.
Make sure Shang Huai doesn't cause any trouble during his return to Beijing.
Even if Shang Huai doesn't think about himself, he should think more about his elderly grandparents and the hundreds of thousands of Zhenbei Army soldiers.
Shang's father revealed the truth to Shang Huai: Shang's father would stay in the north for at most half a year.
After that, the merchant's father would resign from his post before the imperial court.
If nothing unexpected happens, Shang Huai will succeed his father as the true leader of the Zhenyuan Army.
Whether Emperor Xiao likes it or not, at present, no one in the entire Great Xiao is more suitable than Shang Huai to be the leader of the Zhenbei Army.
Moreover, after retiring, Shang's father will return to the capital.
Saying it was to enjoy his retirement was also a way of putting Emperor Xiao at ease.
With his father, grandparents, and other relatives all in the capital, Shang Huai would certainly not dare to harbor any disloyal thoughts.
Next year, Shang Huai will have returned to the north, and it will be difficult for him to return to the capital.
Therefore, Shang Huai, who had been hesitant, suddenly seemed to have made up his mind.
Shang Huai glanced at the figure watching them from behind the corridor.
Shang Huai hardened his heart, lowered his head, and slowly moved closer to Pei Zhi.
Pei Zhi did not back down; she stared intently at Shang Huai.
Pei Zhi just wanted to see what Shang Huai was up to.
Shang Huai's face was trembling with nervousness, his neck was bright red, and he had a look of resignation to his fate. What was this?
Shang Huai's target was Pei Zhi's red lips, but he simply didn't have the courage.
Finally, a kiss gently landed on Pei Zhi's lips.
After a light touch, Shang Huai quickly stepped back, saying, "I'm sorry."
Before Pei Zhi could react, a roar snapped her back to reality.
"You two are utterly despicable."
Seeing this, how could Lu's mother continue to spy?
"In broad daylight, how dare you two act like this in the mansion? Do you really think my son is dead?"
Shang Huai stood in front of Pei Zhi, preventing Lu's mother from getting close to Pei Zhi.
Shang Huai didn't dare to turn around and meet Pei Zhi's gaze; even his back view revealed his guilty conscience.
Pei Zhi could easily understand what had happened after Shang Huai's strange behavior and Lu's mother's sudden appearance.
Lu's mother pointed at Shang Huai and Pei Zhi and started cursing them. After she finished cursing, she said she was going to report them to the authorities.
It would be best to execute Shang Huai and Pei Zhi, that despicable couple.
Pei Zhi was too lazy to listen. "Someone, take the old lady away."
The servants forcibly helped Madam Lu back, and after she left, everything immediately quieted down.
Shang Huai sighed deeply and turned to face Pei Zhi.
Shang Huai thought Pei Zhi would blame him, but Pei Zhi's gaze was calm, without anger or questioning.
"sorry."
Shang Huai quickly apologized, "Now that things have escalated to this point, you and Lu Xiuyuan probably can't continue living together."
"How about you two get a divorce, and then I'll marry you. We can go north, away from this place of trouble, okay?"
Of course not.
If Pei Zhi marries Shang Huai, wouldn't we be back to square one?
She married Shang Huai, which made Xiao Chengci resentful.
Once Xiao Chengci ascended the throne, everything returned to square one.
"Shouldn't you have consulted with me before doing something like this?"
"Sorry, why don't you yell at me, or hit me?"
Shang Huai's words were full of apology, and he didn't notice that Pei Zhi used the word "you all".
Pei Zhi didn't want to hear any of this. "You should go back now."
"I think I'll stay here with you. What if Lu Xiuyuan finds out...?"
"Everyone in this manor is one of my men. If anything happens, I will have you contacted immediately. You should go back now."
Pei Zhi's tone was so calm that Shang Huai dared not refute her anymore.
Shang Huai repeatedly instructed, "If anything happens, you must send someone to find me immediately."
Pei Zhi nodded patiently, finally seeing Shang Huai off.
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