Xiao Chengci questioned, "Why hasn't she arrived yet?"
The guards knelt on the ground and replied, "We have been guarding the city gate every day and we are certain that there are no outsiders."
Xiao Chengci's brows were so furrowed they could have trapped a fly.
Pei Minxue, who was standing nearby, overheard the gist of it.
"So, Your Majesty, you rushed here just to see a girl?"
"So, you've come all this way, but the girl hasn't arrived yet?"
Xiao Chengci's expression was somewhat unpleasant, not because of Pei Minxue's ridicule.
Xiao Chengci was only worried that Pei Zhi might have changed her destination along the way.
If that's the case, what is he doing coming all the way to the north?
Could it be that they came to see Shang Huai?
Pei Zhi was indeed heading north, but she wasn't in a hurry.
Pei Zhi simply wanted to settle down and buy property in the north, but on her way there, she inquired everywhere.
If there's anything fun or delicious nearby, I'll definitely make a detour to check it out.
Anyway, she has money, and no one in the north is waiting for her.
Do whatever feels comfortable.
Pei Zhi is currently at the market in the city. The market is very lively, and many people are bringing their own produce to sell.
Some of them are handmade crafts.
There were also some local delicacies. Pei Zhi strolled around and ate her way through the area, completely unaware that someone was waiting for her in the north.
As soon as Xiao Chengci entered the city, Shang Huai received the news.
Beicheng was, after all, under Shang Huai's control. When Shang Huai heard his men say that Xiao Chengci had arrived, he thought he was hallucinating.
"Who do you think went into town?"
"Reporting to the Marquis, His Majesty has entered the city."
Shang Huai threw down the chess manual in his hand. "What's he doing here? Is he looking for death?"
Upon hearing this, his subordinates quickly apologized, saying, "My lord, some things cannot be said carelessly."
Shang Huai snorted coldly: "He really isn't afraid of death."
Regardless of the circumstances, Xiao Chengci has entered the city, and Shang Huai needs to pay him a visit.
Xiao Chengci's status is different now; he is now an emperor.
Even for the sake of his soldiers, Shang Huai had to take the initiative to pay a visit to Xiao Chengci.
Having found out where Xiao Chengci was staying, Shang Huai led his men to his door.
Xiao Chengci was in a terrible predicament, wondering where he should go to find Pei Zhi.
They were also afraid that Pei Zhi had changed her destination.
If that's the case, where would he find Pei Zhi?
Xiao Chengci rushed over excitedly, just to see Pei Zhi.
Having come up empty-handed, my mood was naturally extremely bad.
Xiao Chengci was even more worried that he couldn't keep waiting in the north indefinitely.
He can stay in the north for at most a month.
If Pei Zhi doesn't come within a month, Xiao Chengci will definitely have to return to the capital.
Xiao Chengci said impatiently, "Please invite them in."
Shang Huai walked in and gave a perfunctory bow, saying, "Your Majesty's presence is an honor; I have failed to greet you properly."
Xiao Chengci was too lazy to argue with Shang Huai over such a trivial matter.
"I came to see how my cousin is doing. After all, Mother still misses you."
Shang Huai sneered, as if he had heard a joke.
"Your Majesty, I recall that the Empress Dowager was so angered by you that she has moved to the royal estate, hasn't she?"
"If you truly want to make the Empress Dowager happy, you might as well start having children sooner rather than later."
Shang Huai sarcastically remarked, "If Your Majesty could have an heir soon, the Empress Dowager would surely move back to the palace and enjoy a happy life with her grandchildren."
Xiao Chengci retorted defiantly, "Cousin, if you can get married and have children soon, I'm sure Mother will be overjoyed."
The two of them looked at each other, neither willing to back down.
In the corner, Pei Minxue, who was not particularly noticeable, took the initiative to break the silence.
"There's nothing good about branching out."
Pei Minxue sighed, "Take me for example. After I became a wife and had a child, I had no status at all in the family."
“Before I had children, if I came back from the palace a little late…”
"My wife prepares nourishing soup for me and gives me a massage at night."
Pei Minxue shook his head: "Now that she has a child, she completely ignores me."
Shang Huai looked at Pei Minxue with a half-smile: "Speaking of which, I haven't yet congratulated Brother Minxue on the birth of your son. This is a wonderful thing."
Pei Minxue cupped his hands in response, "You are too far away in the north, so I could only send you a letter to congratulate you back then."
Shang Huai took out a small box from his pocket. "I was originally planning to have someone deliver it for me."
"But these days, no one around here has gone to the capital, so it has been delayed."
"Since Brother Minxue has come in person, please accept this gift on behalf of your nephew."
Pei Minxue smiled and said, "Your Excellency is truly thoughtful."
Pei Minxue took the box and opened it in front of him.
Upon seeing the contents of the box, Pei Minxue repeatedly declined, saying, "This is far too valuable. No, no."
Pei Minxue received many gifts when her child celebrated their third-day birthday.
Precious and rare.
Those items that were too precious were sent back by Pei Minxue afterwards.
Shang Huai presented a piece of fine jade that had not yet been carved.
These days, gentlemen appreciate jade, and Pei Minxue also owns quite a few jade pendants and the like.
“I’m a rough man, and there’s no use for me keeping it, so I’ll give it to my nephew.”
"Even carving a small trinket for him would be a memento."
Pei Minxue declined several times, but couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to accept it.
Pei Minxue sighed, "You've really gone to a lot of trouble, Lord Marquis."
"What's this expense? I almost became my nephew's uncle-in-law."
Pei Minxue's smile froze, and he said that it was not appropriate for the three of them to meet.
Because once they meet, they will...start talking about Pei Zhi.
Then, things got complicated.
"Almost?" Xiao Chengci naturally disagreed.
"By 'almost', how much less?"
"Have you both already prepared the wedding hall, or have you both already set a wedding date?"
Xiao Chengci emphasized, "None of them are there. This is a little bit off, or it's a lot off!"
Shang Huai picked at his ear. "Brother Minxue, can you hear a dog barking?"
Pei Minxue's expression immediately changed drastically, and he shouted loudly, "My Lord!"
Xiao Chengci pointed at Shang Huai, "Shang Huai, how dare you call me a dog?"
Shang Huai looked innocently at Xiao Chengci, "Your Majesty, I only said that there were dogs barking outside."
Shang Huai asked in surprise, "What? Didn't any of you hear that?"
Shang Huai sighed, "There are many stray dogs outside our army. I hear them every day, and my ears are starting to hallucinate."
Shang Huai said apologetically, "I'm so sorry, Your Majesty has misunderstood."
"However," Shang Huai changed the subject, "Why do you think that I called you a dog, Your Majesty?"
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