Chapter 98 In this life, I will ensure your peace.
Pei Zhi tucked the handkerchief close to his chest, pressing it tightly against his heart: "I will keep it forever. Wherever I go in the future, I will take it with me, just like you will always be by my side."
Looking at his earnest expression, Ye Wanning felt a surge of sweetness in her heart. Pei Zhi never made empty promises; what he said, he always did.
“Oh, right, my mother said that this phoenix-patterned jade hairpin has a story behind it.” Pei Zhi suddenly remembered something, his eyes filled with nostalgia. “When my father was besieged by the enemy at the border, my mother wore this hairpin and took someone to see the enemy leader, using her wisdom to get out of the siege. My father said that this hairpin is not only a token, but can also bring courage and good luck.”
Ye Wanning raised her hand to touch the jade hairpin in her hair: "I will definitely keep it safe and live up to your and the old lady's expectations."
“It’s not expectation, it’s trust.” Pei Zhi held her hand, his eyes full of determination. “If my mother knew how capable you are, she would definitely like you very much. She has always hoped that I would marry a wife who is both gentle and brave, and you are exactly what she has been dreaming of.”
Ye Wanning's face flushed instantly. She turned her head away, but still couldn't help but laugh.
A gentle spring breeze stirred, and crabapple petals fluttered down onto their shoulders and hair. Pei Zhi gazed at her flushed cheeks and the phoenix hairpin in her hair, his heart overflowing with happiness. He leaned down, his voice tender and deep as he whispered in her ear, "Wan Ning, after I've dealt with the affairs of the former dynasty's officials, I'll ask the Emperor for a marriage decree, and marry you in grand style. Then, I want to see you wearing this jade hairpin, in your most beautiful wedding dress, as you enter the Pei family."
Ye Wanning's heart pounded in her throat. She turned her head and met Pei Zhi's earnest gaze. Sunlight filtered through the branches of the crabapple tree, reflecting in his eyes, making them shine like a sky full of stars. She nodded vigorously, her voice choked with emotion, "Okay, I'll wait for you."
...
On the fifth day of the investigation into the remnants of the former dynasty, a breakthrough was finally achieved. The secret guards reported that the former leader was hiding in Black Wind Mountain on the outskirts of the capital, and still possessed the secret edict left by the late emperor—if they obtained it, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"We must get into the mountains as soon as possible; we can't let them get away." Pei Zhi looked at the map with a serious expression. "Black Wind Mountain is a dangerous place, and it's easy to get lost. Stay close to me and don't wander off."
“I know.” Ye Wanning nodded, picked up the silver needles and medicine box, “I’ll go with you. If anyone gets hurt, I can treat them.”
The two men, accompanied by a dozen or so guards, entered Black Wind Mountain that afternoon. The mountain path was rugged and overgrown with weeds. They hadn't walked for long when darkness fell, followed by a torrential downpour. The rain washed over the mountain path, making it muddy and difficult to traverse, and the surroundings became blurred.
"General, there's a cave ahead. Let's go there to take shelter from the rain!" the guard shouted, pointing to a spot not far away.
Pei Zhi nodded and pulled Ye Wanning along, quickly heading towards the cave. The cave wasn't large, but it was enough to shelter them from the wind and rain. The guards lit a campfire, and the firelight instantly illuminated the cave, dispelling some of the chill.
"Are you alright? Did you fall and hurt yourself?" Pei Zhi held her hand and carefully checked her ankle, afraid that she might be injured.
"I'm fine, my shoes are just wet." Ye Wanning smiled and shook her head, putting the wet cloth by the fire to dry.
The thunder and rain outside the cave grew heavier, the thunder boomed, and lightning ripped through the night sky, illuminating Pei Zhi's sharply defined profile. Ye Wanning looked at him, and a strong urge suddenly welled up inside her—she wanted to tell Pei Zhi her secret, her past life.
This secret had been weighing on her heart for far too long, like a stone suffocating her. She wanted him to know why she was skilled in medicine, knowledgeable in business, and why she was so devoted to him.
“Pei Zhi,” she said softly, her voice trembling slightly, “I have something I want to tell you.”
Pei Zhi turned around and saw her serious expression, his heart skipped a beat: "What's wrong? What happened?"
Ye Wanning took a deep breath, avoiding his gaze, and looked at the leaping flames: "I'm not from here, or rather, I've died..."
"You! What did you say?" Pei Zhi was stunned for a few seconds. "You are... reborn?"
Ye Wanning nodded: "Yes. In my past life, I failed to protect you, and I failed to protect myself. You died in battle on the border, and I was betrayed by Ye Lingwei and Shen Wenxuan, and ended up dying in the cold palace. I didn't even get to see you one last time..."
Her voice was soft, yet it struck Pei Zhi like a thunderclap. He stared blankly at Ye Wanning, at her red-rimmed eyes, at the pain and regret within them, his heart churning with turmoil—he had never imagined she harbored such a secret!
"In my past life, you were very cold." Ye Wanning's voice choked with sobs. "Back then, I was an illegitimate daughter of the Ye family, constantly bullied by Ye Lingwei. You were a high-ranking general who never even glanced at me. It wasn't until I died that I realized you had noticed me long ago, but you weren't good at expressing it. You died in battle before you could even tell me you liked me..."
“I was reincarnated when I was 15, right after I escaped from the Ye family.” Mu Lian’er wiped away her tears and continued, “I swore that in this life I would protect you, protect what my mother left behind, and not let the tragedy of my previous life repeat itself. I studied medicine so that I could heal you when you were injured; I went into business so that I could save money to help you when you needed it; at first, I approached you to take advantage of your power, but later… later I really fell in love with you.”
Pei Zhi felt as if his heart was being violently gripped, the pain almost suffocating him. He finally understood why Ye Wanning was so sensible and strong, why she always looked at him with worry, and why she knew so many things that hadn't happened—she had been carrying so much on her shoulders, and all her kindness to him was earned through the regrets of her past life.
"I'm sorry." Pei Zhi stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. His voice was full of heartache and self-blame. "It was my fault in the past life. I couldn't protect you and made you suffer so much. I was too cold and didn't tell you my feelings sooner, so you left with regrets."
Ye Wanning leaned against him and cried even harder: "It's not your fault, it's because I was too stupid. I didn't realize your feelings sooner and I didn't help you avoid those conspiracies."
“It’s my fault.” Pei Zhi interrupted her, lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his movements incredibly gentle. “It won’t happen again. In this life, I will make sure you are safe and sound, that no one will bully you, that you will not suffer any grievances, and that you will never leave me.”
He paused, then said, word by word, "In my past life, I couldn't protect you. In this life, even if it costs me my life, I will protect you. Anyone who lays a finger on you will pay with their blood—the former officials of the previous dynasty, and Ye Lingwei, Shen Wenxuan..."
Ye Wanning nestled in his arms, inhaling the scent of cooking on him, and finally felt relieved. Pei Zhi never made empty promises; if he said something, he would definitely do it.
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