After experiencing some dramatic fluctuations, Chu Mo's favorability rating finally rose to 70.
When Jiang Fei heard the system's notification, he was waiting for Pei Qing to finish court at the pavilion in front of the Imperial Preceptor's residence.
Hearing this, he merely raised an eyebrow slightly.
Indeed, distance creates more than just beauty; it also fosters a sense of goodwill that is easily obtained but not cherished, and that is regretted only after loss.
"It's windy outside, Princess Changning, why don't you go back to your room and wait for the master?" A servant from the Imperial Preceptor's residence cautiously stepped forward to ask for permission.
Jiang Fei shook her head: "It's alright. I've been in the room for too long. It's good to come out and get some fresh air."
The servant dared not say anything more and turned to leave.
It was nearly noon when Pei Qing's carriage slowly returned.
Pei Qing, dressed in white, calmly stepped out of the carriage.
He looked up at the tightly closed gates of the Imperial Preceptor's residence, where all was deathly silent.
A wave of annoyance rose uncontrollably in my heart.
What good is the position of the revered Imperial Preceptor if one's fate is not chosen from birth and one can never leave the great prison of the capital?
He would rather be sick and injured like an ordinary person than suffer from the disease-free life brought by the Qilin Gu.
In the end, it was nothing more than a pitiful caged sparrow.
"My lord," the guard at the door said respectfully as he stepped forward.
Pei Qing lowered his eyes and calmly walked into the mansion.
He paused as soon as he turned the corner of the corridor, turned his head to listen for a moment, and then continued walking.
Suddenly, a whooshing sound came from his side, and a red figure rushed towards him like a bolt of lightning, accompanied by the fragrance of a woman, followed by the crisp crack of a whip.
It also dispelled the silence that filled the courtyard.
Pei Qing's expression didn't change at all. With a casual flick of his sleeve, he grabbed the long whip and applied a little force.
"Hey, it's me!" Jiang Fei's voice came from inside.
Pei Qing loosened his grip slightly.
Jiang Fei seized the opportunity to pull out the whip and was about to attack Pei Qing again.
Pei Qing wasn't annoyed. He moved swiftly in front of Jiang Fei like a wisp of smoke and casually tapped her wrist.
Jiang Fei's wrist went numb, and the whip fell from his hand.
Pei Qing caught the whip and handed it to a servant beside him: "The princess is in poor health and should not resort to violence."
Jiang Fei ignored his words, and just smiled brightly and took two steps toward him, her eyes sparkling, and said in a clear voice, "You're back."
Pei Qing was taken aback, but then frowned slightly when he saw the clothes she was wearing.
Today, Jiang Fei wore a flamboyant red satin dress, her eyebrows and eyes bright and beautiful, but she looked somewhat weak due to the Cold Flower Poison.
Could it be that... no matter how memories change, a person's nature never changes?
"Why are you looking at me?" Jiang Fei met his gaze, her ears burning slightly, then turned around. "Do you think the clothes I picked out this morning look good?"
Pei Qing was silent for a moment: "You didn't like wearing red before."
Jiang Fei was stunned, and the smile on her face froze: "What?"
Pei Qing looked at her and said, "You used to like wearing white."
"White clothes?" Jiang Fei glanced at Pei Qing's clothes. "But I think... I really like the clothes I'm wearing..."
Her voice lowered, then she seemed to remember something and looked up at him, "Do you prefer white or red?"
Pei Qing seemed surprised by her question, paused for a moment, and then calmly replied, "White robes."
Jiang Fei smiled, her eyes narrowing: "Then I'll go change in a bit."
Pei Qing looked at her slightly red earlobes, his brows furrowing slightly.
He had seen her infatuated with Chu Mo. Could this amnesia also change a person's feelings?
"By the way!" Jiang Fei turned to look at him and complained, "The food prepared by the kitchen today was terrible; not a single dish was palatable."
Pei Qing lowered his gaze and looked at her: "What did you do?"
"Celery and lotus seeds."
Pei Qing paused, for these were all Rongrong's favorite foods, which he had ordered the kitchen to prepare.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Fei asked, puzzled.
Pei Qing shook her head: "You used to like eating these."
"Huh?" Jiang Fei was stunned for a moment, then didn't say anything more, just silently followed behind Pei Qing.
Pei Qing glanced back at her, but she only lowered her head, her expression slightly tense.
Once inside the main hall, Jiang Fei suddenly asked in a low voice, "Have I changed a lot compared to before?"
Upon hearing this, Pei Qing turned to look at her. She still had her head down, her expression full of disappointment: "Why does the princess ask such a question?"
Jiang Fei pursed her lips: "So, do you only like the old me?"
Pei Qing paused, her gaze momentarily unfocused, as if she were looking through Pei Qing to someone else. After a long silence, she said, "I'll cook for you myself in a bit. Would you like to eat?"
Jiang Fei suddenly looked up, her eyes brightening slightly, and then nodded vigorously.
Pei Qing nodded and smiled faintly, then got up and went back to the inner room to change.
Jiang Fei returned to her guest room, changed into a white dress, and went straight to the kitchen.
Pei Qing was indeed already there.
It must be said that even when a beautiful woman is cooking, it's a feast for the eyes.
Pei Qing's aloof and restrained demeanor was somewhat diminished by the lively atmosphere of the kitchen, and her jade-like fingers peeled lotus seeds with the grace of plucking flowers, making for a very beautiful movement.
Jiang Fei watched him quietly, noticing a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, and casually took a handkerchief to wipe it away.
Pei Qing was taken aback, turned to look at her, and then her gaze tightened slightly.
Dressed in white, Jiang Fei was less flamboyant and more gentle than when she was in red. Her appearance was exceptionally exquisite, and her skin was as white as jade.
When her eyebrows and eyes are lowered... she looks more and more like Jiang Rongrong.
Jiang Fei reacted instantly, her hand still on his forehead, but she quickly withdrew it, saying, "I just... saw you were busy and couldn't free my hand..."
As she spoke, she seemed to remember something else: "Does this outfit look good? How does it compare to the one I just wore?"
Pei Qing looked at her and inexplicably felt that... someone with her looks should be dressed in the most dazzling red.
But he nodded in the end: "It looks good."
Jiang Fei laughed.
Pei Qing withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "From now on, let's dress like this." He paused, then added, "I like it."
Jiang Fei nodded, her eyes sparkling.
Pei Qing smiled and said, "Let's have a meal."
The lunch was quiet at first, but when Jiang Fei picked up a lotus seed, her brows furrowed, as if she were being tortured: "Why did I always like to eat this kind of thing?"
Pei Qing glanced at the lotus seeds: "To clear away internal heat."
Jiang Fei silently swallowed the lotus seed, then suddenly remembered something: "What was my favorite flower before?" The original owner's favorite flower was the orchid.
Pei Qing took a bite of food without changing his expression: "Peach Blossom."
"What did I love to do most before?" Riding a horse through the streets.
Pei Qing pondered for a moment: "You once said you loved playing on the swing in the backyard."
"Then I..."
"One should not speak while eating." Pei Qing finally couldn't bear it any longer and gave her a look.
Jiang Fei pursed her lips and looked at him, remaining silent.
Pei Qing lowered his head and continued eating his lunch.
Jiang Fei continued to stare at him, her eyes unblinking.
Pei Qing looked up at her helplessly: "One last question."
Jiang Fei's eyes lit up: "Can I only eat lotus seeds and not celery?"
Pei Qing paused, glanced at the celery in her bowl, and said nothing.
Under his gaze, Jiang Fei finally lowered her head and slowly ate the celery in her bowl, her expression troubled.
Pei Qing chuckled softly as he watched her reluctant movements, suddenly finding it somewhat pleasant to have someone making noise. However, he quickly realized his mistake and his expression hardened slightly.
When she looked up again, she met Jiang Fei's gaze. He was looking at her intently and whispered, "Did I...like you a lot before?"
Pei Qing's hand holding the bowl and chopsticks paused slightly, then she casually looked up and asked, "What's wrong?"
“It’s nothing,” Jiang Fei shook her head, “I just feel… I’m happy when I see you happy, so I must really like you.”
Pei Qing didn't say anything more, but looked up at Jiang Fei's lowered head, and for a long time he half-closed his eyes.
She didn't like him before, and neither did he.
Even though they were once engaged, they had no feelings for each other whatsoever.
Why did she... change so drastically?
Jiang Fei continued eating her food, then inadvertently looked up and saw that Pei Qing's favorability rating had gradually increased to 5 before slowly dropping back to 0.
she:"……"
...
For a period of time afterward, Jiang Fei lived a life of ease, with everything done for her.
The difference is that Pei Qing personally chose the clothes and cooked the meals.
Everyone was dressed in white, and there was food that Jiang Rongrong loved to eat.
A peach tree was added to the room, the swing from the backyard was moved to her yard, and even Pei Qing would correct her walking posture.
Except for one thing—
In Jiang Fei's memory, Jiang Rongrong did not know how to wield a long whip, and she did not know why Pei Qing had not forbidden her from touching the whip.
Pei Qing said that she was too weak to fight.
Yet she would still sneak up on him every day when he returned home from court, hiding somewhere to launch a surprise attack.
Without exception, her sneak attacks never succeeded. Pei Qing would occasionally go easy on her, and she wielded her long whip with increasing skill.
Whenever Pei Qing cooked, no one dared to approach her except Jiang Fei, so she took on the task of assisting her.
The once quiet Imperial Preceptor's residence has gradually become more lively.
That day, Pei Qing was in the kitchen as usual, watching the oil in the pot gradually bubbling.
During this time, Jiang Fei has become more and more like Rongrong.
Except... she was skilled at wielding a long whip.
Pei Qing lowered his eyes. He should have told her never to touch the whip again, but for some reason, he didn't say anything.
Why?
Perhaps it was because on that day outside the Imperial Preceptor's residence, when he was filled with desolation and loneliness, she lashed out with her whip, pulling away most of that lifelessness, leaving only a red silhouette.
There was a series of hurried footsteps outside the door.
Pei Qing turned his gaze and saw his personal guard running in, stopping not far from him, and whispering, "My lord, there's a secret letter from the Great Wei, saying that Chu Mo is protecting Miss Jiang very closely, but it seems... the Cold Flower Poison in Miss Jiang's body has been cured."
Pei Qing paused slightly, and the copper ladle in his hand fell into the oil, splashing a large amount of oil onto the back of his hand, causing a sharp pain in an instant.
"My lord?" the guard exclaimed in surprise.
Pei Qing did not respond, his expression still somewhat dazed.
It's been so long since I've heard from Rongrong. The Cold Flower Poison in her body has been cured...
Very good.
"Are you alright?" A woman's soft voice suddenly came from the doorway.
Pei Qing snapped out of her daze.
Jiang Fei was standing there against the light, dressed in white, looking at the back of his hand with concern.
She looks just like Jiang Rongrong.
Would Rongrong stay by Chu Mo's side like this right now?
Just like Jiang Fei, who once loved Chu Mo so much, she is now willing to be a fake by his side.
But why was he the one who received the counterfeit?
Pei Qing unconsciously clenched her fists.
The guards had already left.
Jiang Fei stepped forward, took his hand, and was about to examine it closely when she said, "It's burned quite badly..."
Before she could finish speaking, Pei Qing pulled her hand back from hers.
Jiang Fei was taken aback, stared at him blankly for a moment, her face slightly pale, but she still said, "Did I hurt you just now? Let's go back to the room and I'll put some medicine on you..."
Pei Qing realized what was happening, glanced at Jiang Fei, then at the injury on the back of her hand, and softened her voice: "No need, it will be fine in a day or two anyway."
This has been the case since childhood; injuries heal extremely quickly, which can be considered compensation from the Qilin Gu to a "prisoner of birds".
Jiang Fei looked at the wound with a puzzled expression: "Even if it will heal in a day or two," she looked up and smiled gently, but her eyes quietly reddened, "it will still hurt!"
Pei Qing's expression froze, and he stared intently into her eyes.
When he was young and first injured, the people around him were just as worried. But later, when they learned that his wounds healed very quickly and that he rarely suffered from illness, they stopped caring.
He was the same way.
It hurts a lot, but the pain only lasts for a few days.
"Let me apply the medicine for you," Jiang Fei said, taking his hand. "There's also some cooling balm in the room."
Pei Qing remained silent for a long time before finally saying softly, "Mm."
Jiang Fei laughed and led him into the room.
Pei Qing's hands were covered in large patches of red from being scalded by hot oil, with much of the flesh and blood showing through.
After carefully cleaning the wound, Jiang Fei gently rubbed it with a little cooling ointment on her finger.
The ointment, applied to the back of my hand, had a slightly cooling effect, which relieved the burning pain somewhat.
Pei Qing remained motionless, watching only the movements of her hands, and... when she lowered her head, her long hair slipped down her shoulder like silk.
"Alright." Jiang Fei breathed a sigh of relief and looked up.
But their eyes met Pei Qing's at first glance.
Her expression froze, unable to look away for a moment, and she quietly looked back at him, calling him softly, "Pei Qing."
Pei Qing remained silent, only gazing at her face.
Her eyes were still slightly red because of the injury on the back of his hand.
Her cheeks were slightly pale, but her lips had a deep red sheen.
Pei Qing's gaze darkened, and in the next instant, he realized what was happening and stood up to avoid it.
Jiang Fei stopped him: "The first person I saw when I opened my eyes was you. In my memory, besides you and Father Emperor, there is no one else I can trust. I only trust you." She gazed deeply at him, "Pei Qing, we have been betrothed since childhood. Don't avoid me..."
Pei Qing's evasive movements froze. Was her sudden change of "liking" him because he was the first person she saw? Or because of the engagement?
Jiang Fei said in a low voice, "I remember our promise: you help me find myself, and I'll help you overcome your aversion to being approached by others..."
Pei Qing looked at the woman in front of him, his heart slightly unsettled.
"Would I have done this before?" Jiang Fei murmured, gently leaning close to his eyes, her voice very soft: "This is a kiss."
As soon as she finished speaking, she quietly placed a kiss on the corner of his lips, a quick, light touch, her tongue timidly sweeping across his lips before quietly leaving.
Pei Qing sat at the table, her body stiff, feeling as if something had exploded in her consciousness. A tingling sensation on her lips, like a thread, snaked down to her heart and continued downwards...
He stood up quickly, somewhat awkwardly avoiding Jiang Fei's touch: "Jiang Fei!"
Jiang Fei's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she sat there with her head down: "Someone told me that this way the wound won't hurt..."
Pei Qing's breathing tightened slightly: "...Who?" But she immediately realized that the only person who could say such things to her was Chu Mo, who had once taken advantage of her.
Jiang Fei frowned: "I don't know, but I seem to remember someone saying that to me." Amnesia is such a good excuse.
Pei Qing remained silent for a long while, then looked down at the woman sitting there.
The next moment, he turned and walked towards the door.
Jiang Fei remained seated, watching Pei Qing's figure disappear, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
As expected, the pure and virtuous Imperial Preceptor Pei is indeed a man of impeccable character.
It was just a kiss, yet they reacted so strongly.
[System: Host, what's wrong with Pei Qing?]
Jiang Fei narrowed his eyes: "A thousand-year-old iron tree wants to bloom."
...
The next morning.
As soon as Pei Qing arrived at the main hall, he saw Jiang Fei sitting at the dining table.
He frowned, thinking about what happened last night. No one had ever been as bold and unrestrained as her, even with amnesia. Not even Rongrong had ever been like her.
Pei Qing's expression tightened, she pursed her lips, but quickly glanced at the food on the table again.
Unless he cooks for her himself, Jiang Fei rarely eats things she doesn't like.
But today...
"Please sit down," Jiang Fei smiled at him, as if nothing had happened last night. "How's your hand?"
Pei Qing looked at him, a trace of unease still hidden deep in her eyes, but she felt inexplicably much more relaxed.
—You're not the only one troubled by what happened last night.
"It's nothing," Pei Qing said, sitting opposite her.
The worry in Jiang Fei's eyes lessened a bit, and she lowered her head to eat her breakfast.
Pei Qing looked down at the gourd soup in her bowl. He still remembered the last time she drank this soup, her expression was extremely conflicted.
Even now, her eyes are full of displeasure, yet she still eats it bite by bite.
Pei Qing: "You..."
"Hmm?" Jiang Fei followed his gaze, then looked at his injured hand and smiled quietly. "If you want me to eat it, I will eat it in the future."
"You shouldn't cook anymore."
Pei Qing's favorability rating: 10.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com