Chapter 195 Entering the Inner Chamber
After a long while, she lowered her eyes and spoke slowly: "If you want to use a self-inflicted injury trick, you don't need to. I am no longer your wife, and the old lady has also promised me that there is absolutely no possibility between us in this life."
Her palm remained firmly on his chest, listening to his vigorous heartbeat, each thud making her feel restless.
This feeling was even more unbearable than it had been four years ago. She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it firmly and wouldn't budge.
Her face flushed slightly with anger, her cheeks turning a delicate blush: "Let go... let go!"
Pei Yanzhi stared intently at the struggle and sadness that flashed across her face, and even at the old wounds he had touched.
He knew he couldn't rush things; she was like a snail in the ground—if you poked her, she'd immediately pull her head back.
If you put some of its favorite food in front of it, it will crawl into the trap on its own in no time.
Thinking of this, he suddenly pulled her into his arms with great force, catching her completely off guard.
Ji Shu was held firmly by him and couldn't move. Four years had passed. Pei Yanzhi sighed softly: "You always said that I would never learn how to respect people, but you never taught me."
"Now all I want is for you not to push me away. As long as you don't push me away, Qinghe will stay here with you. Please don't lock me out when I come over, okay?"
Ji Shu stirred slightly in his arms, smelling the familiar sandalwood scent on him, no longer the ambergris from before.
A sudden pang of sadness struck her. It was nothing more than feigned compliance, just like four years ago. In any case, she wouldn't go back with him.
Even if it were for Qinghe, she would do it, and finally nodded almost imperceptibly.
Having achieved his goal, Pei Yanzhi knew he couldn't go any further, lest all his efforts today be wasted.
Slightly loosening her grip, Ji Shu then stepped back from his embrace.
As the sun began to set, it was time for dinner.
Even little Qinghe noticed the difference in the atmosphere between his father and mother; it was no longer the confrontational relationship they had before, although his mother was still speaking coldly.
But in the end, I didn't resist it as much.
Remembering what my father had said before, wanting my mother to go back with them, could it be that my father's method had worked?
I was immediately delighted, and even the vegetables I didn't like in the bowl suddenly seemed much more delicious.
From an angle she couldn't see, Pei Yanzhi nodded slightly to Qinghe.
Ji Shu was unaware of the unspoken understanding between the father and son, and simply buried her head in eating the rice in her bowl.
Pei Yanzhi looked around. She had noticed the difference in her clothes when she went to Old Master Sheng's residence earlier.
Today is my day off, and it's different from other days. I'm wearing a beautiful and elaborate dress, and every accessory I'm wearing is extraordinary.
She knew in her heart that she hadn't lived the way she thought all these years; she had lived a life of hardship, and that made sense.
She has an exceptional talent for business; it would be a shame to let her talent go to waste.
After dinner, dusk was gradually falling.
Ji Shu saw him reading a storybook to Qinghe, with the child nestled in his arms, occasionally whispering something.
This was the first time she had ever seen the father and son like this in private. She already knew from Qinghe that, apart from Granny Fu, her father had been the one who spent the most time with her since she was a child.
In addition to his monthly official duties, he would always take a few days out of the palace to play, just like an ordinary father and son.
Thinking of this, Ji Shu lowered her eyelids and turned her gaze back to the account book in her hand.
After an unknown amount of time, so long that Pei Yanzhi had finished reading his thick storybook, the little boy had fallen asleep in his arms, too sleepy to speak.
Seeing this, Chunzhi hurriedly stepped forward to take it, and Ji Shu also looked up when she heard the sound, and saw that he was looking at her intently.
He put down the book in his hand, walked to the table in front of her, and asked in a dark tone, "It's getting dark. May I stay here tonight?"
Ji Shu was startled, almost thinking she had misheard, and her eyes suddenly turned to him.
Pei Yanzhi said calmly, “Originally, it was said that Qinghe would stay here for two nights and I would pick him up tomorrow. But after thinking about it, he is currently the one who is most attached to you. If you can have him by your side, you will feel more at ease.”
"But as you know, you are all women in this mansion and there are no guards. So after thinking it over, I still think it would be better for me to move here. What do you think?"
Ji Shu would never believe that there was no deliberate intent involved.
But I had just agreed to it that afternoon, so it was not good to go back on my word now.
She pursed her lips, not wanting to answer. Seeing that her face was full of displeasure, Pei Yanzhi said, "Don't worry, just arrange a room for me. I won't bother you unless it's necessary."
"I just wanted to be closer to you, so that Qinghe could see you and me all the time..."
Ji Shu looked away from the ledger, glared at him fiercely, and said, "Do whatever you want."
Then he said to Chunzhi, "Zhi'er, prepare a room and invite... His Majesty to rest there."
The word "Your Majesty" was spoken with particular emphasis. Pei Yanzhi forced himself to suppress the joy surging in his heart and gave a soft "Ah."
Before leaving, she gently reminded me, "Get some rest early, don't stay up too late, it'll hurt your eyes."
Having said that, he walked leisurely with his hands behind his back, following Chunzhi away.
Enraged, Ji Shu threw the account book in her hand hard at his back. Pei Yanzhi paused, then just chuckled softly, as if he had gotten his wish.
They left.
Before dawn, Pei Yanzhi, dressed in a plain black robe, stepped out of the Sheng residence.
Wu Yang, who was standing guard by the carriage, stepped forward and whispered, "The news of my presence here must not be leaked. She must be strictly protected both inside and outside."
Wu Yang understood the meaning of "she" and immediately accepted the order.
The carriage slowly drove away.
Meanwhile, at the Qin Prince's residence, Princess Lin was carefully adjusting the Qin Prince's imperial robe, pleading in a low voice, "Your Highness, my younger brother..."
He seemed to want to plead for leniency, but he also knew the gravity of the mistake he had made. He decided to wait until the matter was settled before deciding how to handle it.
The King of Qin, already impatient, glanced at her and said, "I don't have time to deal with your brother right now."
Having said that, he turned and left the mansion.
Upon arriving at the mansion and alighting from the carriage, a servant led him inside.
Even though the King of Qin was of noble birth, he knew at this moment that the will of Heaven was unpredictable. If Pei Yanzhi wanted him dead now, he would not be able to resist.
If the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die.
This summons today has only strengthened his resolve. He now understands that the emperor has most likely discovered something about him.
This waiting was, in fact, a way of intimidating him.
Even if he were to stand there for a whole day, he would have no other words to say.
About half an hour later, the servant bowed and said, "Your Highness, please come in. The master is inside."
The King of Qin wiped the sweat from his brow, bowed slightly, and stepped through the door.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com