Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Madam, don’t you think I’m unromantic?
The mountains are cool and secluded, like a pure land away from the mundane world.
However, the plaque on the academy at the foot of the mountain was already cracked and dilapidated. Lu Suizhu's eyes showed a hint of hesitation: "Are you sure you haven't come to the right place? This is where the world-famous hermit lives?"
It should be noted that Liu Sanyuan and the grandfather of the current emperor were close friends regardless of age difference. He even taught and answered questions for the late emperor. He was well-versed in military strategy, medicine, and statecraft. However, he later lived in seclusion and did not care about worldly affairs.
It has been more than two years since Pei Zhiji last came. He didn't expect that his master was so lazy that he didn't even bother to cut the weeds.
"Actually, I'm the last disciple my master accepted in his later years, so the academy is sparsely populated, and sometimes I tend to... neglect it."
Before he finished speaking, an old but powerful voice suddenly exploded from the half-human-high weeds.
"Who said there are few people here? Could it be that I'm not a human being?" Liu Sanyuan stretched lazily, parted the grass and emerged, muttering to himself, "A vulgar visitor disturbed my quiet meditation so early in the morning, disturbing the spiritual charm of the mountain plants and trees for no reason!"
He was wearing a faded indigo robe loosely draped over his body, which looked like a Taoist robe, and was walking towards him, twirling his beard.
Pei Zhiji lifted his robe and knelt, bowing respectfully: "Master."
Liu Sanyuan, however, passed by his closed disciple and approached Lu Suizhu, observing her intently. He pointed a finger between her eyebrows. "You have a faint, ethereal aura. Tell me—are you knowledgeable about music?"
“…I could indeed play the piano when I was seven years old.” Lu Suizhu nodded stiffly and told the truth.
Pei Zhiji, who had been ignored for too long, stood up from the ground, brushed off the dust on his knees, and helplessly called out, "Master."
Liu Sanyuan finally noticed him, his brow furrowed. "It's not that I forbid you from coming, but your worldly filth would interrupt my conversation with the gods. However—" He changed the subject: "This little girl you brought is quite good. She has some spiritual roots and a pure aura."
He looked at Lu Suizhu with joy and asked her what songs she could sing and who her teachers were. Lu Suizhu answered one by one. Finally, Liu Sanyuan whispered, "Have you ever tried to communicate with the gods through the sound of the zither?"
"Ah?" Lu Suizhu looked up at the sky in the direction his finger was pointing, and saw only a few dark geese flying by.
Seeing this strange scene intensifying, Pei Zhiji finally stepped forward and interrupted, "Master, I came here because I'm in trouble and urgently need your help. Can you please hold off on discussing your important matter with the gods?"
"Okay, okay." Liu Sanyuan glanced at his expression and understood. "Seeing how exhausted you look, let me guess—you've been feeling lost lately, uncertain about the future, and feeling like you're on a path that's completely different from the sages you read in your youth."
Pei Zhiji's mouth curled up into a bitter smile. Sure enough, he couldn't escape his master's sharp eyes.
"My disciple," Liu Sanyuan said with a sharp gaze, "I would like to ask you, what were your thoughts when you first entered the officialdom?"
When he first entered officialdom, Pei Zhiji was determined to establish his mind for heaven and earth and his destiny for the people.
"Tsk tsk, what is the appearance of your Heart Seal? Who dares to teach it?" Liu Sanyuan stroked his beard and sighed, "It is difficult for people in this secular world to give up everything to practice cultivation, but why don't you try to slowly return your lost heart to its original state? Once you find your true nature, won't the confusion break away naturally?"
Finding his true nature…? These few words were like a revelation, clearing up the knot in Pei Zhiji's chest.
Perhaps because of Lu Suizhu's excellent zither playing, Liu Sanyuan rarely acted like an elder and warmly invited her: "Girl, stay and learn music from me for a few days! Zhiji, please stay too. It's a good opportunity to rest here for a while. One less day of worry is better than any panacea!"
Pei Zhiji lowered his eyes and listened quietly, silently enduring his master's scolding.
The night in the mountains is exceptionally quiet, with insects chirping and flowers fragrant, a bright moon shining among the pines, and clear springs flowing over shiny, polished stones. Lu Suizhu plays the zither in the courtyard, while Sanyuan blows the melodious flute. Their wonderful ensemble draws the chirping of birds on the bamboo shoots.
"Girl, with the blessing of your piano music tonight, a god will surely descend to have a thorough conversation with me, Liu."
Lu Suizhu placed her fingers on the strings and gently plucked them. She couldn't help but ask, "Senior, have you ever seen... a god with your own eyes?"
"The Valley Spirit is immortal, it is the Mysterious Female. The gate of the Mysterious Female is the root of heaven and earth. If it exists forever, it will be used without fail. All things have their origins, so why do we need to see it with our own eyes to count?" Liu Sanyuan stroked his beard and laughed, with a look of secrecy on his face.
It was dawn, the light was dim, and Lu Suizhu yawned lazily, showing no interest in these mysterious words.
When she returned to the room, she saw Pei Zhiji had not gone to bed yet. He stretched out his arms, and she fell into his warm arms before she could react.
"Why don't you rest?"
"I can't sleep. I'm thinking about my master's teachings."
"Then tell me what you mean. Don't bother with all those grand theories."
Pei Zhiji let out a low laugh into her hair and said, "Okay." He thought for a moment and then told her what was on his mind.
"When I was young, I was focused on my studies, hoping only for peace and prosperity for the people. But since returning home at sixteen, I've uncovered the truth about my mother's murder, witnessed the Pei family's decline, and learned of my father's cowardly nature. Add to that the burden of this illness..." He paused, "Now, all I carry on my shoulders is the empty title of Pei's heir."
On a narrow couch, the two of them rubbed each other's bodies in close proximity. Lu Suizhu spoke softly, "When we first met, Lord Pei was deeply concerned about the flooding in Liangxi, and he was also worried about it later in Fanxi." She raised her head, her eyes serious and firm, "My husband, being a competent head of the Pei family and being a good official are not in conflict at all."
He murmured "hmm" in a low voice, his voice slightly hoarse. Lu Suizhu caressed his body and felt an unusual warmth. She glanced casually and landed on a somewhat discordant place, and her gaze froze.
Thinking of what he had said before, she picked up a strand of his hair and twisted it around her chest, playing with it, and said teasingly, "Master Pei, why are you so self-deprecating today?"
In Jielu Pavilion, the arrogant and domineering Lord Pei had also treated her so mercilessly.
Hearing her playful voice, Pei Zhiji closed his eyes resignedly. A pair of bony hands clasped her waist from the side, and he rested his head against her neck, his eyes reddening. "Madam really knows how to... add fuel to the fire."
"I was wrong."
"You are a patient, you should drink some dew to reduce your fever." Lu Suizhu said deliberately.
"Physiological desires should be expressed rather than suppressed." Pei Zhiji responded in a low voice.
Although he said this, his hand was still on her shoulder properly. Lu Suizhu felt bored with such restraint in bed. Her ears turned pale red. She pulled the man's long and delicate hand and slowly slid it into her snow-white underwear. The soft and unfamiliar touch made Pei Zhiji's fingertips tremble, and he instantly lost his skilled disguise. After all, such intimacy only happened in the wedding night.
And this is only the second time.
Liu Sanyuan had been giving Pei Zhiji flower dew for several days. He didn't know what the recipe was, but his complexion had definitely improved. The night before he left, Liu Sanyuan asked Pei Zhiji, "Can you please let me stay with you? She has a keen understanding of music. With my guidance, she'll soon understand the true meaning of heavenly music."
"No." Pei Zhiji refused decisively.
The next day, when Lu Suizhu left, she searched the entire academy but couldn't find any trace of Liu Sanyuan. She felt disappointed, but Pei Zhiji advised her not to be so stubborn. "Forget it. Master doesn't like being bound by rules, nor is he used to formal farewells. Let's go down the mountain."
After returning to the mansion and before settling in, Fang Dian came to report: "The master and his wife have arrived in the capital, and the young master has also returned with them. They are all waiting for the young lady to come over to Qingfeng Cottage."
Her words almost caused a stir as Lu Suizhu murmured softly, "Here I am...it's about time." She subconsciously stepped back, and Pei Zhiji grasped her lowered hand. "I'll go with you."
The former quietness of Qingfeng Cottage was broken. The little yellow dog came to the prosperous Shangjing City for the first time and was so happy that he kept humming all the way.
Lin Yan threaded the needle expertly, her steps impatient and her composure uneasy. She cursed Shen Wenjian, who had returned exhausted from the journey, "It's a pity you live with your sister, yet you didn't know about such a big thing. You couldn't keep an eye on her when she was little, and you still can't keep an eye on her now that she's grown up?"
Lin Yan put down the needle and interrupted him: "Why are you still talking about this?"
Shen Wenjian had just returned from the north. Before he could rejoice in his promotion, he heard that his sister was getting married. He was still frightened, and when Shen Zhuo scolded him, he had no choice but to swallow his anger.
As she entered the secluded alley, the sweet scent of osmanthus filled her heart. Before she even reached the door, Lu Suizhu heard the barking of a small yellow dog. She paused, took a deep breath, and then stepped through the door. "Dad, Mom, Brother."
Lin Yan was as gentle as usual. She walked up to them and asked when they came back. With a sullen look on her face, she snorted coldly and walked into the house with her hands behind her back.
After he disappeared, Shen Wenjian stepped out from the side and pressed a heavy bag of silver into Lu Suizhu's hands. "This is my brother's savings. Consider it a dowry for you. I'll give you more in the future." He glanced around warily and whispered in a low voice, "Dad is back in Beijing to report on his work this time. I'm afraid he'll be staying there for a long time... Be careful."
Lin Yan, standing by, patted him lightly. "Don't talk nonsense." Then she pushed Shen Wenjian aside and turned to Pei Zhiji. Her expression was solemn, and her voice was deep and clear. "Even if the Pei family is incredibly powerful, we, the Shen family, would not bother to cling to them. If you do anything to wrong Wenjian, I, Lin Yan, will do whatever it takes to take my daughter away."
Pei Zhiji's eyes were sincere, and he said in a resounding voice: "I swear on the Pei family's hundred years of honor and disgrace that I will never accept two women in my lifetime."
Lu Suizhu was also speaking softly and tenderly beside him. Seeing this, Lin Yan's tense expression relaxed a little.
Pei Zhiji and Lu Suizhu stayed at Qingfeng Cottage on the pretext that the Pei Mansion had caught fire and needed repairs.
Your house isn't burned down." Lu Suizhu muttered to the side. "The renovation work is noisy and affects your rest." Pei Zhiji explained calmly.
Lin Yan was naturally happy that her daughter and son-in-law could stay. A genuine smile spread across her face, and she immediately set about arranging accommodations. Qingfeng Cottage had limited rooms, so she arranged, "Wenjia will sleep with me, and Wenjian will rest with your father. As for Master Pei..." She glanced at the little yellow dog barking in the yard, "Just bear with it for a while and keep it company."
The little yellow dog barked affectionately twice, rubbing and circling around Pei Zhiji's feet. He leaned over and picked up tonight's "companion". The puppy stuck out its pink tongue in his arms, and a dog smell hit his face. Pei Zhiji frowned, let go of his hand without leaving a trace, and gently put it back on the ground.
This scene inexplicably evoked a sense of familiarity in his heart, as if he had returned to the time when he lived in Jielu Pavilion.
The night was as cool as water. The peach tree branches were covered with silver threads, which were blown by the evening breeze and cast floating light and shadows.
Lin Yan was already fast asleep, but Lu Suizhu was tossing and turning, listening to the noises outside. Pei Zhiji and Shen Zhuo had been chatting on the rock for almost the entire night.
To be fair, if we put aside external factors such as the court and family background, Shen Zhuo has some admiration for Pei Zhiji. This boy holds a high position but cares about the people, and is calm and steady beyond his age.
"I understand your concerns. The situation is turbulent right now, and the Pei family can no longer withdraw. My words are weak, but please believe me. Even if that day comes, I will leave a way out for Wen Jia."
The matter was already settled, and no amount of nice words could ease the depression in Shen Zhuo's heart. He still spoke in a cold and hard tone, pretending to be dissatisfied.
"I don't know what Wen Jia sees in you?
Pei Zhiji laughed and said, "She seems to particularly love this look of mine."
What kind of logic is this! " The veins on his forehead jumped, and his wrinkles deepened a little.
It was too late at night, so the two said goodbye and went back to their rooms to rest. As soon as he turned around, Pei Zhiji saw the head that was leaning on the window frame and eavesdropping.
He approached slowly. Lu Suizhu hurriedly opened the window a crack. A cold breeze rushed in, lifting her hair. She eagerly mouthed, "How is it?"
Pei Zhiji suddenly leaned over, tilted his neck slightly, and without warning, grabbed her chin and kissed her, going straight in with tenderness and hunger. Lu Suizhu's breath was choked, and she pushed him away with a muffled groan.
"Didn't Madam think I had no romantic feelings before?" The well-dressed man lowered his voice and uttered such obscene words.
"When have I ever said such a thing?" Lu Suizhu said with resentment. Such thoughts were only thought about secretly at most, so how could she say them out loud?
"I happened to hear the madam mumbling in her sleep." He tapped the diamond-shaped pattern with his knuckles, making a damp and dull sound.
Embarrassment instantly burned across her cheeks, and Lu Suizhu's cheeks flushed red. But he stared at her calmly, as if he was determined to seek justice.
Lin Yan suddenly turned over behind them, startling Lu Suizhu so much that she quickly retracted her head and remained silent. The two were holding their breath when a sudden commotion came from the west wing.
Chen Zhuo and Shen Wenjian slept together. The father and son were silent and uncomfortable. Chen Zhuo simply asked him about his experiences in the north, and the two started arguing as soon as they disagreed.
"You are a rotten tree that cannot be carved! How can you be a good official if you are so impetuous and shallow?" He was calm and angry at his lack of fighting spirit.
"My colleagues praise my ability to handle things, my superiors praise me for being a promising young man, but you, Dad, always look down on me!" Shen Wenjian retorted, stiffening his neck. "Why don't you just scold Mother, blame Sister, and find fault with your son-in-law?"
"You bastard! How dare you talk back to me like that!" Shenzi was furious and picked up the feather duster at hand and hit him in the face. "Get out!"
Before Shen Wenjian could even grab his outer robe, he was pushed out of the room by his furious father. He staggered a few steps and looked up, only to see the couple having a secret meeting under the moon.
The two faced each other, both feeling a thick sense of embarrassment at being caught.
The cold wind bit her bones, ruffling her sleeves. Lu Suizhu looked at her brother shivering in the wind. "Brother..."
She quietly poked her head out. "Actually... there are a few quiet, vacant courtyards in the Pei Mansion. If Dad stays in Shangjing for a long time, why don't you... stay there for the time being?"
Even Pei Zhiji had never seen such a tense father-son relationship, so he felt a little sympathy.
Shen Wenjian shuddered, his smile tinged with bitterness. "I think it's okay."
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