Chapter 28 Thoughts
For Pei Yanzhi, who was tall and imposing, this space was far too cramped.
Only now did Ji Shu realize what she had done.
Pei Yanzhi only needed to lower his head slightly to clearly smell the fragrance emanating from her skin. It was hard to describe the scent; it was like the fragrance of roses or the delicate fragrance of a young woman, elegant and rich.
Ji Shu's cheek was forced to press tightly against his hard chest, her nostrils filled with the crisp sandalwood scent emanating from him, and they could even clearly hear each other's heartbeats.
Pei Yanzhi's deep voice rang out from above, "Afraid that Xingjian will misunderstand?"
A wave of heat washed over her face, spreading to the tips of her ears. Ji Shu hadn't expected him to know about her and Pei Xingjian. Her voice trembled as she asked, "How could you? I...I didn't..."
Pei Yanzhi looked at her with eyes as deep as the ocean, as if trying to discern the truthfulness of her words. He remained silent for a moment before speaking: "Even if he saw it, it doesn't matter. I'll just explain."
After realizing the ambiguous position between them, he instinctively wanted to figure out what she was thinking.
His tone was usually gentle but firm, except when he spoke to Wei Ziming in the corridor just now, when he revealed a hint of authority, or even a warning.
Did he know that the Crown Prince intended to propose marriage to her? Was he protecting her?
Even Ji Shu didn't know why she had pulled him in; it was almost an unconscious action.
Seeing that she remained silent, he looked around and frowned. "Come this way. There are rocks behind you; you'll hurt your back."
Before he finished speaking, he reached out and put his arm around her waist, gently pulling her to his side. In that brief touch, Pei Yanzhi clearly felt his arm brush against something soft.
Realizing what it was, the muscles in his arms tensed instantly, becoming as hard as iron.
Fortunately, the light was dim, and she couldn't see Pei Yanzhi's clenched jaw, which seemed to be a bowstring stretched to its limit, about to snap at any moment.
If she could see what he was thinking right now, would she think he was shameful?
How could he have such despicable fantasies about the woman who was about to become his daughter-in-law...
He took a deep breath and said in a suppressed voice, "Xingjian has been dealing with his grandmother recently, and is even willing to antagonize the Wei family for your sake... Are you aware of all this?"
When Pei Yanzhi saw Ji Shu lower her head and remain silent, he understood in his heart that she was willing, and even happy to live a simple life.
The two of them are now alone in this small space. Is it because the space is too small and too enclosed that he feels a pent-up frustration in his chest with nowhere to vent?
At this moment, he only needed to take one more step closer to pull her into his arms and cherish her tenderly.
But he couldn't.
He was the lord of Yanzhou and Xingjian's father.
Perhaps I should really get rid of all the thoughts that shouldn't be in my head; she's not someone I should be lusting after.
Between you and her lies an insurmountable gap of age and social norms; anyone could see how well-matched Xingjian and she were when they stood together.
Some things, though he knew were impossible, still troubled his mind, until he heard a sound outside the cave, and it was Pei Xingjian who had come looking for him with Chunzhi.
"Didn't you say Shu'er was here? Where is she?"
Chunzhi also began to panic, "Could it be that it's too hot and the young lady went to the front gate to wait for the maid?"
Pei Xingjian knew he wouldn't get lost in the manor, but that wasn't what worried him. What he was worried about was hearing that Shu'er had caught him with Wei Heng.
If he didn't explain clearly, Shu'er would definitely misunderstand, and thinking of this, he became even more anxious.
"Let's go and take a look ahead."
Once the outside was completely quiet, the two emerged from the shadows. Pei Yanzhi noticed that her hair was slightly disheveled.
She reached out her right hand and took off a lock of hair from her head, saying gently, "Alright, Xingjian must have been looking for you anxiously. Let's go."
Pei Yanzhi strode ahead, with Ji Shu following behind. Looking at his tall and imposing figure, Ji Shu had a vague feeling that he was restraining something.
Thinking of the tender moment when he gently brushed her hair away, Ji Shu felt a shiver run through her heart. Could it be what she was thinking?
I shook my head, then realized I was overthinking it.
A man as decisive and ruthless as him, if he really wanted something, would rather take it by force or seize it than he would ever consider it...
Just after he had taken a few steps, Ji Shu suddenly remembered something. "Lord Yan, I have something to say."
Pei Yanzhi turned around and gestured for her to continue.
Ji Shu carefully chose her words: "Perhaps you and Lady Wei have some misunderstanding about me. I have no intention of competing with him for the prince, much less agree to marry him."
That's all I have to say. The rest is a matter between the father and son. Anyway, I've already made my stance clear.
After all, he is his son. Father and son never hold grudges overnight. Although this generation of tyrant may not live for many years, his son will be the one to reap the rewards in the future.
However, he couldn't openly offend the father and son. In the book, Wei Heng was Pei Xingjian's lawfully wedded wife, who would one day become the empress. If he arbitrarily changed the world in the book, he might suffer a backlash.
Now that he had transmigrated into Ji Shu's body, all he wanted was to live well, for only by living could he have hope.
Pei Yanzhi's expression froze for a moment, then relaxed. He thought she had feelings for Xing Jian, since Xing Jian had gone to such lengths for her.
Why not?
He voiced his doubts, "Xingjian has been working tirelessly for you these past few days, even falling out with the Wei family to annul the engagement, all so that he could marry you. Why are you unwilling?"
Ji Shu met his intensely piercing eyes, swallowed nervously, and said, "I am just a commoner with neither a distinguished family background nor mountains of gold and silver to pave the way for the young master. I am truly unworthy of the young master's favor."
"I know my own nature well. I can't adapt to the rules of aristocratic families, let alone the practice of having multiple wives and concubines in this era. I would rather live as I please, have some spare money, do what I like, lock myself at home for a few days when I'm unhappy, and go out and have fun when I'm happy."
Instead of spending her days dealing with mundane affairs, scheming against each other for the sake of concubines, and constantly revolving around her husband.
Why did she dare to say such things? If it had been a month ago in front of someone like that, she would never have dared to make such outrageous remarks.
But she inexplicably trusted him, and even felt that he could understand what she was saying, given his experience and how he had built his empire with his own hands.
What Ji Shu didn't know was that these words stirred up even more turbulent waves in Pei Yanzhi's heart. He looked at Ji Shu's slightly reddened ear tips, which were showing signs of nervousness.
Looking at her exceptionally beautiful eyes in the sunlight, she was truly stunning; every smile and gesture was breathtakingly beautiful.
Because of the desire for freedom, they exude a unique kind of beauty.
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