Chapter 97 I Shouldn't Have Let You Misunderstand
“My wife likes to eat this.” Pei Zhi took the oil paper package, carefully held it in his arms, and then rushed back into the rain. The corners of the oil paper package were wet from the rain, but he didn’t care. He just held it tightly, afraid that the buns inside would get cold.
The carriage finally stopped in front of Ci'an Hall. Pei Zhi jumped out of the carriage, opened his umbrella and ran inside. Rain dripped down his hair and soaked his clothes, but the red bean bun in his arms was warm.
He knocked on the door of Ci'an Hall, but there was no sound from inside. After a long while, he heard Chun Tao's voice: "Who is it? It's so late."
“It’s me, Pei Zhi.” His voice was a little hoarse. “I’m looking for Wan Ning.”
The door was pulled open, and Chun Tao was startled to see Pei Zhi, who was soaking wet. "General! How did you get so drenched? Come in quickly!"
Pei Zhi shook his head, looked past Chun Tao and went inside: "Where is Wan Ning? Let me see her."
Chun Tao opened the door with a creak, looked at his soaked appearance, sighed, and stepped aside to let him in: "General, please wipe your face and drink some hot water to warm yourself up."
Pei Zhi didn't get any hot water. He just held the red bean bun in his arms, walked to Ye Wanning's door, and gently knocked: "Wanning, I know I was wrong. Please open the door."
There was no movement inside the room.
He knocked on the door again, lowering his voice: "I bought your favorite red bean buns, fresh out of the steamer, still warm. If you don't come out, the buns will get cold."
There was still no movement from inside the room.
Pei Zhi's heart pounded. He leaned against the door frame, rain streaming down his face, indistinguishable between rain and tears.
"Wan Ning, I know I was wrong." He swallowed hard. "I shouldn't have saved Liu Ruyan without thinking of you, I shouldn't have let you misunderstand, and I shouldn't have let you suffer. I'm clumsy, I'm bad with words, and I don't know how to coax people, but every word I said was true. You're the only one in my heart."
He paused, then suddenly knelt on one knee, holding the red bean buns in his arms, and said to the house through the door, "These red bean buns are from your favorite shop. I ran over in the rain to buy them. They're fresh and still hot. Can you come out and see them? Even if you're still angry, it's okay to eat these buns and then be angry again."
A faint sound finally came from inside the room, and then Ye Wanning's door creaked open.
Ye Wanning stood behind the door, her eyes red-rimmed, clearly having cried. She looked at Pei Zhi kneeling on one knee, at his soaking wet appearance, at the red bean bun he clutched tightly in his arms—the oil paper was wet, but the bun inside was still warm. All the resentment and anger in her heart vanished instantly, leaving only heartache.
"Are you stupid? Why did you come here in this heavy rain?" She squatted down, reaching out to help him up, her voice choked with sobs.
Pei Zhi looked at her, his eyes suddenly brightening as if stars had fallen into them. He didn't get up, but simply handed her the red bean bun: "Eat the bun first, it won't taste good when it gets cold."
Ye Wanning took the red bean buns, her fingertips touching the warm oil paper, and tears finally welled up in her eyes. She picked up a red bean bun and held it to Pei Zhi's lips: "You eat some too."
Pei Zhi opened his mouth and took a bite. The sweet red bean paste melted in his mouth, warming him to the core. He looked at Ye Wanning and suddenly smiled: "Is it good?"
"Delicious." Ye Wanning also took one and took a bite, her tears falling even faster.
Pei Zhi stood up, reached out and wiped away her tears, his movements so gentle it felt like he could melt the whole world: "Don't cry, or the steamed buns won't taste good."
"Who told you to be so silly?" Ye Wanning threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. "It's raining so hard, what if you catch a cold?"
"It's okay if you catch a cold, as long as you're not angry." Pei Zhi hugged her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice full of joy, "I will never make you angry again, really."
Chun Tao watched the two embracing from a short distance away, quietly wiped away her tears, and turned to walk into the kitchen—she had to quickly make a bowl of ginger soup for the general, lest he catch a cold.
...
In springtime, the crabapple blossoms at the General's Mansion are in full bloom. The delicate pink petals have fallen to the ground, like a pink velvet carpet.
Ye Wanning was reading under the crabapple tree when Pei Zhi came out of the study, carrying an exquisite brocade box, and walked briskly toward her.
"What are you looking at?" He sat down beside her, the faint scent of crabapple blossoms and the medicinal fragrance emanating from her body filling his nostrils with contentment.
“It’s a medical book left by my mother.” Ye Wanning looked up, smiled, and closed the book. “It contains many prescriptions for treating gynecological diseases, which can be used in the women’s clinic.”
Pei Zhi nodded, his gaze falling on her hair—she wasn't wearing much jewelry today, only a simple wooden hairpin holding her hair up, yet she still looked beautiful and charming. He took a deep breath and handed the brocade box to her: "This is for you."
"What?" Ye Wanning took it curiously, opened the brocade box, and inside lay a jade hairpin with a phoenix pattern. It was made of mutton-fat white jade, warm and pure white, with a phoenix about to take flight carved on the hairpin, and a small ruby set in the phoenix's beak, it was so exquisite that it was unbelievable.
"What...what is this?" She looked up in surprise, her fingers gently stroking the hairpin. "It's so valuable, I dare not accept it."
“You must accept it.” Pei Zhi held her hand earnestly. “It’s my mother’s dowry. My father said that this hairpin can only be passed down and not given away. It was supposed to be given to you on your wedding day, but I couldn’t wait and wanted to put it on you now.”
Ye Wanning's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes stung slightly. She knew the significance of this hairpin—it was a token of the Pei family's recognition of her, and a promise from Pei Zhi that he wanted to spend his life with her.
“But…” She wanted to refuse, but Pei Zhi wouldn’t let her speak.
"No buts." He picked up the hairpin, parted her hair, and gently tucked it into her hair. The cool jade hairpin against her scalp warmed her heart. "How is it? Doesn't it look good?"
Ye Wanning raised her hand to cover the jade hairpin in her hair, imagining her appearance in the mirror—a moon-white dress, a phoenix hairpin inserted at an angle, and begonia petals falling on her shoulder, as beautiful as a painting. She turned her head to look at Pei Zhi and suddenly smiled: "Thank you, Pei Zhi."
"Thank me for what?" Pei Zhi chuckled, ruffling her hair. "There will be plenty more to come."
Ye Wanning shook her head, took out a small handkerchief from her bosom, and handed it to him. It was light blue, with the words "Zhi Ning" embroidered on it in silver thread. It shimmered softly in the sunlight, and a small begonia flower was embroidered next to it.
"This is a gift for you." Ye Wanning said shyly, her face slightly flushed. "Holding your hand, may we live a peaceful life together. This is my way of expressing my feelings for you."
Pei Zhi took the handkerchief and saw the words "Zhi Ning." His heart skipped a beat and then raced again. He held the handkerchief tightly, unfolding it carefully. His fingertips traced the fine stitches, and he could clearly feel her care. This handkerchief was small, but it was more precious than any gold or silver jewelry.
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