"Deputy Envoy Xiao spoke to defend me," Pei Yunshu shook her head. "That’s why he said that, but Mu Sheng is particularly shameless. I fear that he will spread rumors everywhere afterward, possibly causing trouble for Deputy Envoy Xiao."
"No matter." Xiao Zhufeng said, "I’m not afraid of him." He added, "If he comes looking for you again, you can come to the Palace Front Office to find me, and I’ll drive him away for you."
Pei Yunshu shook her head: "It wouldn’t be right to keep troubling Deputy Envoy Xiao. If there really comes such a day, I’ll just let Ah Ying know." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
She still smiled, but her demeanor suddenly took on a more distant quality, leaving Xiao Zhufeng somewhat at a loss.
Pei Yunshu’s gaze fell to the ground, paused for a moment, then bent down to pick up a string of beads that had fallen from Xiao Zhufeng’s wrist when he had drawn his sword earlier.
These beads were different from the other sandalwood beads, clear and translucent, a pale shade of pink, and resembled a woman’s jewelry.
Pei Yunshu handed the beads back to Xiao Zhufeng: "Deputy Envoy Xiao, you’ve dropped something."
Xiao Zhufeng froze for a moment, hastily took them back, his expression briefly flustered.
This flustered look in the eyes of Pei Yunshu only further confirmed her suspicions, so she said with a light smile, "I will speak to Ah Ying later about today’s incident, reminding Mu Sheng not to speak carelessly. Even if Deputy Envoy Xiao has a broad mind and doesn’t mind, doesn’t he care about his beloved’s feelings?"
Xiao Zhufeng was puzzled, "Beloved?"
Pei Yunshu’s smile faded further: "The bead bracelet on Deputy Envoy Xiao’s wrist, wasn’t it a gift from your beloved? Why would a man use such pretty jewelry?"
Xiao Zhufeng looked down at the bracelet, suddenly realizing, and nervously explained: "No, it’s not, it wasn’t a gift from a woman. It was bought by Duan Xiaoyan. Everyone in the Palace Front Office has one; it’s for attracting peach blossoms... If you don’t believe me, you can ask Pei Yunmeng... He also bought one."
It was unusual to see him stumble over his words. Pei Yunshu was a bit surprised, and upon hearing the phrase "attracting peach blossoms," she became even more astonished and couldn’t help but ask, "Does Deputy Envoy Xiao wear the bead bracelet because there is someone in his heart?"
Xiao Zhufeng immediately shut his mouth.
The two were silent when Fangzi’s voice came from outside: "Miss, Miss..."
Pei Yunshu turned around: "Fangzi, I’m here!"
Fangzi ran over with a box in tow, relieved upon seeing Pei Yunshu: "I couldn’t find miss anywhere; you scared me to death." Then, noticing Xiao Zhufeng, she exclaimed with a surprise courtesy, "Deputy Envoy Xiao, what brings you here?"
"I happened to be passing by just now." Pei Yunshu replied and then said to Xiao Zhufeng, "Thank you for stepping in today. Since there’s no trouble, we will be leaving now."
She smiled and nodded at Xiao Zhufeng, then turned and walked with Fangzi out of the alley.
As Xiao Zhufeng watched her leave, the words Pei Yunmeng had told him earlier suddenly came to mind.
"My sister is young and beautiful, and she has her own family wealth. Now that I’m deeply favored by the New Emperor, there are countless men in Shengjing City who long to be Treasure Bead’s father."
"Since you’re my brother, I’ll tell you exclusively, if you still want to be my brother-in-law, you’d better take the initiative. Don’t miss the opportunity and end up treading the old path of falling for a married woman again."
Countless men wished to be Treasure Bead’s father...
Pei Yunmeng was not lying; even a bastard like Mu Sheng wanted to have a second chance. Of course, it wasn’t just because of Pei Yunmeng’s influence; even without those external factors, she is worthy.
She was naturally the best woman in the world.
Above him, a leaf floated down gently, blown by the wind into his arms. The half-green, half-yellow leaf was just like his mood at the moment. With the new emperor’s ascension, he no longer lived day to day uncertain if he would be dead or alive as before. And her suddenly fading smile when she misunderstood him made his heart sour.
Those in love understand the pain of yearning, while the heartless cannot grasp the meaning of longing...
Between the heartsick and the heartless, who knows where they fall...
He wanted to be one who loved, willing to die for yearning. Nor did he wish her precious love to be wasted on this world’s betrayal.
Xiao Zhufeng suddenly clenched the leaf in his hand and strode forward.
Pei Yunshu had just reached the entrance of the alley when she suddenly heard a voice from behind: "Miss Pei."
She turned around, and Xiao Zhufeng approached.
The man’s waist-length sword was stern, his usually cold features now had a hint of red, and with a deep voice, he said, "It wasn’t just to extricate you."
He looked up at her eyes: "What I said earlier was true. I will treat her like a daughter, I like Treasure Bead very much, and I also like..."
Xiao Zhufeng didn’t finish, as Fangzi was already covering her mouth to suppress her scream.
Pei Yunshu watched the usually quiet and stern man before her, hanging his head slightly, awkwardly and more tender than usual.
The breeze blew the fallen leaves across the distant stone steps. She paused for a moment, then smiled and continued walking forward with Fangzi.
She stopped after two steps.
"Treasure Bead said during the day that she wanted to go to East Panlou Street to see the candy flowers in the evening, and Ah Ying has already agreed."
Xiao Zhufeng was taken aback.
"Would Deputy Envoy Xiao like to join us?" she asked.
The woman’s voice was gentle. For a moment, it was as though time had reverted many years prior, when she stuffed the wound medicine into his hand and left in a hurry, lifting her dress. He watched her figure move away; she became more distant, yet her shadow felt closer.
And so, it was etched vividly for many years.
Then, he smiled softly and replied.
"Alright."
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