Chapter 86 The Root
It is truly rare to see the Marquis of Yan in such a place. Everyone in the entire Yan Prefecture knows him. The Marquis of Yan rarely travels outside, so it is normal that ordinary people do not recognize this carriage emblem.
Pei Yan glanced at Ji Shu out of the corner of his eye and said in a flat tone, "I came out to pick someone up today, and I've picked them up now."
Upon hearing this, Wei Ziming's eyes flashed with surprise. Who could possibly warrant the Marquis of Yan personally coming to fetch someone? He must be someone extraordinary!
Countless thoughts raced through her mind, and her gaze involuntarily drifted towards the gap in the carriage curtain, where she could only vaguely see a corner of a white skirt embroidered with intertwined branches.
My heart trembled violently; it was a woman?
Marquis Yan has never been interested in women, so how could it be a woman? Could it be that he is seeing things and there is just an ordinary maid inside?
Pei Yanzhi lowered his eyelids slightly, taking in the look of surprise and uncertainty in his eyes, a glint of light flashing in his gaze.
After a moment, Wei Ziming composed himself and asked, "Uncle, do you know where Xingjian went? I haven't seen him for quite some time."
Pei Yanzhi said calmly, "I sent him to train the new recruits. I expect he will return to the manor in a few days."
"Then I will go to your residence in a few days to pay my respects to the old lady."
Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi nodded slightly, lowered the curtain, and the carriage began to move.
A gust of wind swept by, lifting the curtain and revealing the woman's shimmering satin embroidered shoes. Wei Ziming was about to get up when his movements suddenly froze.
Those are the shoes that Madam Ji wore today!
He muttered to himself, "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"
He remembered clearly the pair of cloud-patterned shoes inside, embroidered with exquisite lotus flowers, and topped with a large, dazzling pearl.
How could she and the Marquis of Yan be together?
Let alone him, no one else would believe it, but the facts are right in front of us. And then there's what Lord Yan just said, that he came here to pick someone up.
Then he thought of Ji Shu's flustered expression as she hurriedly left. Who was he picking up? He was picking up Ji Shu!
Or there is another possibility: that Xingjian was not around, and asked Marquis Yan to take care of her.
That's right, that must be it, that must be it!
He really didn't want to think about another possibility.
On the carriage back to the mansion.
Ji Shu lowered her eyes and slowly sipped the tea in her hand, seemingly lost in thought. Pei Yanzhi's gaze lingered from her hair to her hand.
Seeing her eyelashes flutter rapidly, he waved for Lian'er to step back, and Lian'er quickly retreated.
When Chunzhi saw Lian'er come out, she couldn't help but smile mischievously at her, only to be angrily retorted.
The atmosphere inside was simply too unbearable.
Seeing that she was still ignoring him, Pei Yanzhi clicked his tongue and realized that he was wrong that day. He had also reflected on it carefully these days and found that he was indeed petty.
"Alright, are you still angry? I was wrong that day." His tone softened. "But you slapped me too. I've never been slapped before in my life."
"You slapped me, and I hurt you. Can we call it even?"
Seeing that she remained silent, only her eyelashes trembled, his heart softened even more, as if it were soaking in a jar of sour dates.
He held her small hand and gently kneaded it: "If you're still not satisfied, then slap me a few more times, and I absolutely won't fight back. You can hit me as much as you want!"
Hearing his soft apology, Ji Shu finally looked up at him and saw that his eyes were sincere and genuine.
Ji Shu pursed her lips. "Are you telling the truth?"
When Pei Yanzhi saw that she was finally willing to talk to him, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Of course, a man's word is his bond..." He hadn't finished speaking.
A crisp "snap" sounded.
Ji Shu raised her hand and slapped him hard, returning all the humiliation she had suffered over the past few days.
Just as he caught up with her today, Ji Shu realized that in this cannibalistic world, if she didn't figure things out soon, perhaps her life would just end like this.
For this man, he was still somewhat novel. From the moment he arranged to stay at Shanshui Residence, it was clear that he was no different from traditional men from aristocratic families.
He didn't care about the woman's thoughts or feelings; he simply imposed his own ingrained patriarchal system on himself. He believed that once they had physical intimacy, it would be even better if they had a child.
She would spend the rest of her life subservient to him, living as a fish on a chopping board, completely at his mercy.
But if she challenges his authority again and again, it will only make this high-ranking, undefeated man more and more courageous. At that time, she will take away all her wings and everything she has.
She could only ask herself to change. There were still many things waiting for her to do. Once the agreed time arrived, what reason would he have to stop her?
And she will spend this year developing her own power.
Pei Yanzhi was stunned by the slap and turned his head away, not coming back to his senses for a long time.
He rubbed his cheeks, feeling the pressure of gravity, and looked down.
His gaze was ambiguous, and Ji Shu shrank back slightly in fear. Seeing this, he let out a barely audible sigh.
He pulled her into his arms, rested his chin on her forehead, and sighed, "Are you venting your anger? If not, do you want me to hit you a couple more times?"
Hearing his gentle words of comfort, for some reason, my nose tingled and my eyes immediately began to redden.
He just felt wronged. He hadn't done anything wrong. It was his mood swings that made him so easily convicted of something he thought he had done wrong.
Hot, wet tears fell onto the back of his hand. Pei Yanzhi froze, and then a wave of immense regret washed over him.
He regretted his selfishness, his suspicion, and even felt a lingering fear, thinking back to that day when he had really strangled her to death.
He could imagine that he would live the rest of his long life in regret and torment every day. Even if the world was unified, what fun would he have?
Holding her like this in the carriage at this moment, the warmth in my heart is incomparable to anything.
He gently turned her face, letting her lean against his shoulder, feeling the soft sobs of his beloved in his arms, his robes gradually becoming damp.
He patted his trembling back, knowing all too well that he was ultimately jealous of Xing Jian.
On one hand, she was jealous of his youth, which allowed him to act without restraint; on the other hand, she was jealous that he could leave a mark on Ji Shu's heart.
He could even imagine himself leaving before her, and then no one would dare to stop Pei Xingjian. This was the real source of his madness.
"What am I supposed to do with you..." he sighed softly.
After an unknown amount of time, Ji Shu closed her eyes, cried herself to sleep, and the carriage slowly came to a stop.
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