Chapter 132 He's gone mad!
The next morning, after waking up, Ji Shu habitually touched the spot next to her.
The man who held her as she fell asleep yesterday was not by her side. The other half of the bed was cold and empty, without a trace of warmth.
Ji Shu propped herself up and slowly sat up, pinched her palms, and then shook the bell on the side of the bed.
Soon, Chunzhi entered with her maid. Ji Shu stood up and asked, "Where did the Marquis stay last night?"
Chunzhi: "This morning, a message came from the study saying that the Marquis was busy with official business last night and stayed up too late. He didn't want to disturb you, so he stayed in the study."
Upon hearing this, Ji Shu simply nodded. After washing up, she instructed Chunzhi, "Get ready, have breakfast, and come with me to Yuqing Temple."
Chunzhi thought of the things she had accomplished a few days ago and nodded in agreement.
But seeing the young woman's gloomy expression, as if she had something on her mind, he guessed what was going on.
She asked softly, "Would you like to inform the Lord? He probably doesn't know you're going to Yuqing Temple."
Upon hearing this, Ji Shu simply shook her head slightly, "It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. We'll be strangers in ten months, so why should I let him come with me?"
Whatever you thought before, it doesn't matter anymore.
Seeing that the lady was stubborn and refused to admit it, Chunzhi had no choice but to pack up and leave the mansion with her.
As their carriage drove further and further away, Pei Xingjian walked out of the gate and looked at the carriage not far away. He had ordered people to keep an eye on the movements of Wenxin Pavilion early in the morning, and as soon as he saw Shuer go out, he immediately followed.
Without giving a second thought to his own intentions, he followed the carriage at a distance, wanting only to catch a glimpse of her from afar.
Upon arriving at Yuqing Temple, Ji Shu first lit incense for her parents. The old abbot, knowing Ji Shu's identity, personally led her and her entourage on a tour of the temple.
"Madam, you can try the vegetarian food at the temple at noon. The vegetarian food at our temple is quite unique and is well-known in Yanzhou."
Ji Shu had long heard that the vegetarian food at Yuqing Temple was excellent, and many high-ranking officials and nobles from Yanzhou came here because of its reputation. However, the vegetarian food was not easily open to the public.
It's only open one day a month, and I never expected to happen to be there today. What a coincidence!
In addition, since he really didn't want to go back anytime soon, he said okay.
They followed the young master to the guesthouse where the young lady could rest. Once inside, Chunzhi, worried that the young lady might be hungry, said, "Madam, let me see if there's anything to eat and bring you some."
Ji Shu looked around and nodded.
After Chunzhi left, she carefully closed the door. When Pei Xingjian saw Chunzhi leave, he finally couldn't suppress the urge to go forward, but he still had to consider etiquette.
Even though she was her father's wife, if word got out that a man and a woman were alone together in a room, Ji Shu's reputation would be ruined.
He hesitated outside the door for a long time, but in the end, he still couldn't knock on the door that was only separated by a single panel.
After drinking the water, Ji Shu, having nothing else to do, looked around the room. Suddenly, a tall shadow appeared on the door. Without thinking, Ji Shu assumed that Pei Yanzhi had come to visit.
She took two steps forward and opened the door, "How come you..." Her voice choked in her throat.
It turned out that Pei Xingjian was standing at the door.
Ji Shu's expression suddenly changed. Seeing that there was no one outside, and not wanting to get entangled with him outside, she had no choice but to step aside and let him in.
Pei Xingjian stepped into the room, but before he could speak, Ji Shu asked coldly, "What are you doing here? Were you following me?"
These words instantly brought Pei Xingjian back to Chongzhou. Back then, when the two of them were in the carriage, she had spoken with the same harsh words.
It's only been half a year, but everything has changed.
Pei Xingjian looked unusually flustered: "I was just worried because you didn't bring any servants with you, so I followed you."
After saying that, he quickly added, "Don't worry, absolutely no one will notice."
Ji Shu lowered her eyes, walked to the wooden stool and sat down. Only then did she look up at the young and handsome prince and said calmly, "You are the prince of Yanzhou, and I am the mistress of Yanzhou. Even if we walk together, no one will dare to speak ill of us."
Pei Xingjian felt a pang of pain in his heart. He stared at her in disbelief and asked in a hoarse voice, "Did Father tell you to say this to me?"
She paused for a moment, but quickly regained her composure and said, "Your father has never mentioned you to me. But what were you doing yesterday, Your Highness?"
But Pei Xingjian didn't believe it at all. He knew that Shu'er must be angry that he hadn't gone to Chongzhou to find her for so long, causing the two of them to miss so much time.
This led to his father taking advantage of the situation. He really couldn't imagine how his father, who had spoken so disdainfully of Ji Shu in Chongzhou, could have...?
Pei Xingjian: "Do you know that when Father was in Chongzhou, he already made it clear that he would not stop me from announcing the engagement?"
“I originally thought that when the time was right, I would break off the engagement and marry you. I even went to Chongzhou half a month ago.”
"But who knew that when I heard that you had reluctantly come to Yanzhou with your father... I rushed back without stopping."
Ji Shu suddenly looked up at him. On the day of their wedding, she did have some doubts. As the heir apparent and his only son, why would he appear on such an important occasion?
Unexpectedly, he went to Chongzhou.
But none of that mattered to her anymore. Ji Shu was filled with impatience, and it was already inappropriate for her to be with him today.
She raised her hand to interrupt him: "Your presence at Yuqing Temple has already caused me a great deal of trouble. If your father asks, I'll have to think about how to explain it."
"Since I married your father, I was already walking on thin ice in this household, and you—"
“Your Highness, I do not know what I have said or done in the past that may have caused you to misunderstand. If I have said anything inappropriate before, I apologize to you now.”
"From both a moral and logical standpoint, I am your elder, and it is inappropriate to involve you in this way."
Pei Xingjian looked at the beautiful but aloof young woman in front of him, whose words seemed to be trying to distance herself from him, and for a moment he almost lost his balance.
He took two steps forward and grabbed her wrist tightly, startling Ji Shu so much that she almost cried out, but fortunately he did not go any further.
"Shu'er, what your father can do for you, I, Pei Xingjian, can do as well as you can, and I will even do more for you."
"If you want to be my legal wife, I will immediately break off the engagement. If you don't want to stay in Yanzhou, I can even take you away from all this trouble."
Ji Shu trembled all over upon hearing this. She knew it was all over. She had finally spoken out. She hurriedly got up, pulled her hand back, and took several steps back.
“Your Highness, do you know what you are saying? I am now your mother in name only.”
Pei Xingjian's eyes were bloodshot: "Of course I know, but you should have been my wife! It was my father who took you away."
“If it weren’t for him, it would be us sleeping beside you now, and buried with you a hundred years from now.”
Such treasonous words!
The more they talked, the more absurd it became. Ji Shu simply couldn't bear to listen anymore. If anyone else heard this, she would be doomed.
Ji Shu gripped the edge of the table and shook her head vigorously: "If that day really comes, I suppose I won't be far from death then."
She knew all too well that if the day ever came when she had to serve the father and son, Pei Yanzhi would kill her without hesitation!
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