Chapter 159 The Expedition is Imminent
The servants waiting on both sides bowed in unison. Pei Yanzhi strode in and bowed to Madam Pei at the head of the table, saying, "Son greets Mother."
Madam Pei looked at him gently and said, "Please sit down."
Pei Xingjian rose and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Father."
Pei Yanzhi responded indifferently, and seeing Pei Song's gloomy expression across from him, he knew that Pei Song had not yet recovered from the Song family incident.
His younger brother has always been a womanizer, so it might not be a bad thing if he falls for a woman.
With that thought in mind, he walked over and sat down next to Ji Shu.
Lady Pei asked, "When will we set off?"
"I will leave tomorrow. Xingjian will stay in Yanzhou. I am afraid that the gentry in Yanzhou will not be able to keep up. With him and my second brother there, I will feel more at ease when I am away."
Upon hearing this, Ji Shu looked up at him and saw that although he looked tired, he was in good spirits, so the situation was still under control.
He felt a little more at ease. Although the book recorded that he eventually became emperor, it was several years earlier than expected, and there were bound to be changes along the way.
Madam Pei's face showed a hint of surprise. She hadn't expected him to leave tomorrow. Seeing that Xingjian didn't seem surprised, she knew that he must already know.
Indeed, this battle will surely take a long time, and his wedding is less than half a month away. If he leaves now, who knows how long Wei Heng will have to wait.
He nodded knowingly.
Pei Yanzhi glanced at Pei Xingjian and said, "After I go to war, I will entrust all the affairs of this manor to you and Second Uncle. Don't let me down."
The subtle warnings in his words were probably only missed by Pei Song.
Pei Xingjian sneered inwardly, not forgetting to warn himself even as he was about to leave.
But when he saw the tenderness in his father's eyes as he looked at Ji Shu, he was taken aback. He seemed to realize something, then gave a bitter smile and agreed.
Now, he has absolutely no chance to say anything to her anymore.
After leaving the main hall of Fushou Garden, Pei Yanzhi took Ji Shu's hand, and the two walked slowly along the garden path.
The atmosphere was unusually quiet. Perhaps it was because Ji Shu had taken the initiative to kiss him last time that Pei Yanzhi had a fleeting thought. He always felt that Ji Shu still had feelings for him.
Even a single point was enough to make him happy for days. Even with the expedition imminent and Pei Xingjian left in the mansion, he seemed to no longer have that worry in his heart.
"I noticed you didn't eat much at the banquet today, is it because the food didn't suit your taste?" he asked in a low voice.
Ji Shu looked ahead and said, "Didn't I tell you that you shouldn't eat too much for dinner?"
"Then why did I hear that you had a poor appetite and even invited a doctor over?"
Ji Shu paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "Isn't it normal for one's appetite to be good sometimes and bad sometimes?"
Pei Yanzhi noticed the slight annoyance in her tone, but his eyes were smiling. He found her adorable no matter how he looked at her.
Even when she's slightly angry, with her eyes wide open and her lips slightly pouting, she doesn't look like she's scolding someone at all; she's clearly being coquettish.
Pei Yanzhi gently pinched the tip of her delicate nose and sighed, "You, you're only like this to me."
Immediately, Ji Shu's expression became somewhat subtle. She blinked and looked over, only to see him smiling broadly, with an expression that said, "I really can't do anything with you."
Her expression stiffened for a moment, then she suddenly strode ahead, leaving him behind.
Pei Yanzhi followed her like this, his pace quickening as she went, and stopping when she got tired.
Seeing this, Wu Yang and Chunzhi behind them exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with helplessness.
Have these two drunk too much?
Back at Wenxin Pavilion, Ji Shu fled into the bathhouse to take a bath, while Pei Yanzhi wandered around the room, sat down on the canopy bed, and noticed a familiar object peeking out from under the pillow.
Upon picking it up, she discovered it was the dagger he had given her that day, which she had kept under her pillow for self-defense.
He remembered that day; he was clearly furious, but he still couldn't bear to hurt her.
Sometimes I wonder, her beauty is indeed rare, but there are countless women in this world, so why did she have to fall for her?
Even though Xingjian was so fond of her and proposed to him more than once, he still couldn't bear to part with her.
With a thought in mind, he rubbed the gem-inlaid dagger, got up, and walked straight to the bathroom.
At this moment, Chunzhi was adding hot water, and Ji Shu was standing by the screen, unbuttoning her clothes.
Just as Chunzhi was about to add the special bath oil as usual after entering the water, Pei Yanzhi walked in.
He whispered, "Get out."
Chunzhi glanced quickly at the lady, her face slightly flushed, then lowered her head and retreated, gently closing the door behind her.
Ji Shu wasn't surprised to hear his voice; it wasn't the first time he'd come in. She closed her eyes slightly and ignored him.
But for quite a while, apart from the faint sound of water, there was nothing else in the room.
She opened her eyes, thinking he had already left, but saw that he had taken off all but his underwear.
At first glance, one notices his well-built chest, with clearly defined muscles, suggesting that he was already quite naked when Chunzhi was still around.
He casually draped his outer robe over the screen, pressing her dress tightly underneath, the hem of the garments overlapping and tangled together.
Ji Shu felt a surge of heat in her chest, and her heart began to beat faster.
She looked up and unconsciously met his deep eyes, and couldn't help but swallow hard. She thought about how he was going to war tomorrow, and how he hadn't come to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.
He's probably here to torment her!
Pei Yanzhi easily hooked up the last pair of underpants and stepped in. The water level rose suddenly as he entered, and the water inside rushed out.
The entire bathroom was instantly filled with steam, and Ji Shu shrank back slightly, hiding further inside.
Pei Yanzhi noticed that her cheeks were flushed, though it was from the steam, and that the snow mark on her neck was becoming fuller and fuller, and her eyes were becoming increasingly dark.
He took her hand, kissed it gently, and whispered, "I've been so busy these days, are you scared?"
His question about whether she was afraid referred to the impending war, and the fact that as the commander-in-chief, he would inevitably be unable to be with her, leaving her to face the future alone.
Thinking that she would only be eighteen after the New Year, he felt a pang of pity and pulled her into his arms.
Ji Shu was caught off guard and bumped into his arms, letting out a muffled groan.
Are you scared? Tell me.
To say she wasn't afraid would be a lie, but she knew his fate and that all of this was an inevitable process.
She nodded and said, "I know that the Marquis will return safely."
Pei Yanzhi looked down at her, chuckled softly, and gently stroked her back with his palm, causing her body to tremble slightly.
"You believe so much that I will win? Then I will certainly not let you down, my lady!"
Ji Shu leaned against his chest, feeling his steady and powerful heartbeat, a heart beating for her, and feeling his palm cupping her.
She asked softly, "I mean, what if you were injured, or lost the battle?"
What she really wanted to ask was, "If you die, what are you going to do with me?"
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