Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Only the hot breath...
Lu Suizhu had half of her head floating on the water, her mouth open as she gasped for breath, trying to relieve the discomfort of the water in her throat. She struggled in the water for a while and even forgot that she could swim.
Only the brocade belt around the man's waist was still firmly grasped in her hand. He was unable to take care of himself while struggling, and it was difficult for him to relax at all.
The clothes around his waist gradually became loose and tattered, and were gradually peeled off from his body. Pei Zhiji wiped the water off his face, but there were still drops of water on his eyelashes and eyebrows.
In a state of half clarity and half blur, he grabbed Lu Suizhu's wrist and used some force to try to pull her hand away.
The hand that was originally placed behind her shoulder blade loosened, causing her body, which was already having difficulty breathing, to sink even more uncontrollably.
When her body was about to be completely submerged in the water, she felt a strong hand caressing her waist, pressing hard against her, and pulling her sinking body in time.
Through a layer of wet gauze, an undeniable warmth came.
It felt a little itchy and numb... Lu Suizhu twisted her body uneasily, as if she heard the man's helpless sigh coming from above her head.
In a flash, her arms, which had nowhere to rest, were forced to rise up and rest on the man's arms.
The wetness and softness are entangled, stirring up layers of fine waves.
"Lu Suizhu, hold on to me."
There was a tingling sensation in my ears, like bamboo leaves rustling in my hair.
"Suizhu, hold on to me.
I tried desperately to hear more clearly, but was overturned by the merciless pool water.
"Suizhu..."
He took a deep breath and looked at the familiar ceiling. His heart was still beating violently, and the suffocation around him had not yet subsided. Pei Zhiji's earnest call was still lingering in his ears.
Looking down, I saw that my clothes had also changed into clean ones.
As soon as she entered the door, she saw Lu Suizhu opening her eyes. Fang Dian's face showed joy. She walked forward eagerly, lifted the door curtain, and placed the cold-relieving medicine she had just prepared on the paulownia wood table beside her.
He bent down and slowly helped Lu Suizhu up, letting her lean on the folded soft pillows: "Miss, you are finally awake. You have been unconscious for three days."
"Three days?"
Surprised, Lu Suizhu took the soup bowl, took a few sips of the very bitter medicine with a spoon, frowned instantly, and refused to drink any more no matter what.
To prevent Fangdian from continuing to persuade her to take the medicine, she simply changed the subject and looked around the room, but didn't see anyone.
"Where's my brother?"
When mentioning this unpleasant thing, Fang Dian seemed to be hesitant to speak. She stirred the bowl with the spoon in her hand. Her expression showed displeasure and she didn't want to say more. She was hesitant in her words.
"It's been spreading all over Kyoto these days, saying that the young lady used the flower viewing banquet to seduce Lord Pei. The words are quite unpleasant, saying that she is fickle and wants to cling to the powerful..."
"Stop talking—"
Shen Wenjian came back from outside in the rain and interrupted Fang Dian's dirty words before she could say them. His indigo clothes had become a discordant shade of light and dark after a day of running around, and his tone could be described as very unexpected.
When he came in and saw that Lu Suizhu had woken up, he calmed down the anger he had just brought in and his expression softened slightly.
Fangdian tactfully took the medicine bowl and went out to give the brother and sister room to talk.
Shen Wenjian sat beside the bed with a concerned look in his eyes.
Their eyes met, speechless for a moment.
Lu Suizhu's mind was full of how she had completely messed up what Xiao Mao had assigned her at the flower viewing banquet, and she didn't know what would happen in the Eastern Palace.
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel a headache. I pinched the corner of the quilt with my fingers, leaving a few fine marks. When I was extremely worried, I looked up at the lush green willow trees outside the window under the drizzle.
It's a new color.
In Shen Wenjian's eyes, this scene was like a young girl's beautiful thoughts. She couldn't get rid of the longing and melancholy that was like the falling flowers and flowing water. Shen Wenjian couldn't help but feel a little regretful.
His hands, which were resting on his knees, hung down on both sides of his sleeves. He suddenly stood up straight, almost shooting up.
"Don't worry, sister. If you really like Mr. Pei, I will beg him to marry you."
After saying this incomprehensible sentence, he was about to go out again in anger.
Lu Suizhu: “?”
Realizing that he was about to do something foolish, she reacted very quickly despite her weak body. She used all her strength and finally managed to grab the only remaining piece of his clothes from behind.
Feeling the pull, Shen Wenjian frowned, took a breath, and sat back down on the bed. There were some things he couldn't help but say, and he could no longer suppress them.
"A girl's reputation is so important. These people said such harsh words. How will you cope with it in the future? Even if Pei Zhiji is in a high position and has great power, I will fight for you and will never let you be drowned by the spit of Shangjing."
After saying that, he stretched his neck and shouted towards the yard.
"Fangdian, remember to lock the gate from now on, to prevent any cats and dogs from barking outside!"
"Okay."
Fangdian responded loudly from outside, splashing the basin of water all over the floor at the door.
After listening for a long time, Lu Suizhu finally understood what was going on. She was both angry and amused. "So, brother has been busy cursing people these days?"
Shen Wenjian didn't say anything, but tilted her head slightly as a sign of agreement, and then asked another question that she hadn't expected.
"Are you...satisfied with Master Pei?"
There was obvious caution in her words. Although they were biological siblings, they had been separated for many years and knew very little about each other. She did not take the initiative to talk about many things, and Shen Wenjian did not dare to ask too presumptuously, for fear of hurting his sister's feelings.
"No, really. Brother, please go out first. There's no need to worry about me. I want to be alone for a while."
If you don't want to involve Xiao Mao, you shouldn't dwell on this matter too much. After saying this, Lu Suizhu lay back on her side, facing the wall and ignoring everyone.
Shen Wenjian had no choice but to tuck in the corner of the quilt for her and walked out with a serious expression.
Not long after, Fangdian knocked on the door.
"Girl, we have guests."
I stood up and looked out the window. The sky was still a little gloomy, and the drizzle never stopped.
At this time...could it be that Qin Wu Niang heard that she was still alive and came to look for her?
She casually threw on a piece of clothing, and her hair was not combed neatly, so it was all loose. As she walked, her hair swayed from side to side, revealing her slender waist.
Seeing that the rain outside the window was not heavy, but thin and fine like morning mist, I went out without an umbrella.
"Wu Niang?"
After calling out twice and no one answered, Lu Suizhu walked forward a few steps.
The mist and rain are hazy and as fine as blue silk.
Far away, in the center of the courtyard, Pei Zhiji stood in the rain holding an umbrella. Half of his delicate and angular profile was melted in the hazy rain, revealing a somewhat dark and cold white.
Pulling her coat closer, Lu Suizhu slowly stepped forward, standing at his level, and together they looked at the shiny, new glazed tiles washed by the rain.
I don't know when the rain stopped falling above my head. It turned out that Pei Zhiji had already tilted the umbrella.
The wet ends of her hair gathered into a clump. In fact, the rain was heavier than Lu Suizhu had imagined.
"That day in front of Jiaolan Palace, you tore off my belt."
Pei Zhiji opened his mouth, his voice as clear as the sound of jade.
Lu Suizhu was caught off guard by the blunt and unintentional questioning. She thought he might be impatient to question her about her faked death, but she never expected that he would come specifically to talk about... such a trivial matter as tearing off her belt.
He stood there in a daze for a moment.
As if afraid that she would not recognize him, Pei Zhiji slowly took out the brown brocade belt embroidered with dark arabesque patterns from his bosom with the hand that was not holding the umbrella to protect him from the rain, and handed it to Lu Suizhu.
She had grabbed, kneaded, and pulled the belt several times in the water, and even after it dried, it could no longer be ironed straight.
When it was taken out and spread out, it was still a little wrinkled.
The courtyard gate was wide open, and a noisy breeze rushed in. The sedan chair of the Pei Mansion was parked at the entrance of the alley not far ahead. From time to time, some people who thought they were cautious and did not want to reveal their whereabouts would peek in.
Fang Dian had taken care of her for two days and had gone to rest. The only one left in the yard was the mute boy, who just lowered his head and washed dishes, ignoring right and wrong.
After looking around, Lu Suizhu shifted her gaze to the belt in front of her. Her fair and delicate face felt hot, and she whispered to Pei Zhiji to put it away quickly.
"Master Pei, what do you mean? It's broad daylight and there's no need to misunderstand. Could it be that Master Cheng wants me to compensate you with a belt?"
Seeing Pei Zhiji's mouth corner raised, which was obviously disdainful, Lu Suizhu also felt it was ridiculous and she simply didn't know what the world was.
Although this person is difficult to deal with, he is not the kind of person who is petty and vindictive. Now he comes to me just for this belt and gives it to me so openly. I'm afraid he has other intentions.
"Now it's spread all over the capital, saying that Shen had been planning this for a long time, and took advantage of the flower viewing banquet to get close to me and... "
After a slight pause, and looking at the bewildered Lu Suizhu, he changed his words to a more euphemistic one: "We've been entangled in the water for a long time."
"Under the influence of so many people, the rumors are no longer bearable to hear."
"If I hadn't rushed forward, you wouldn't have fallen into the water out of fear. I'm also responsible for this."
Raindrops slid down the brim of the oil-paper umbrella, bringing a chill to my skin.
Only panting and hot ears.
"If you want, I can..."
"No need."
His tall body froze a little at these unexpected words, and his fluttering sleeves of green shirt could not move. Pei Zhiji turned around in disbelief, with half of his body immersed in the dark blue sky.
"I said no."
A drop of rain fell from her black hair, and Lu Suizhu repeated it again.
Their eyes reflected each other's shadows in the rain, one was calm and determined, the other was stunned.
The pursuit is more like a confrontation.
In the end, Pei Zhiji was at a disadvantage. Without saying a word, the handle of the oil-paper umbrella slipped from his hand and fell to the ground in the direction of the rain, dancing with the pebbles.
Along with the umbrella, the dark brown ribbon also fell in.
Pei Zhiji strode into the rain, his black shirt wet.
Without looking back, his back was resolute as he completely disappeared into the alley.
He carefully picked up the belt on the ground and brushed off the fine sand and gravel on it against the slanting wind.
A light sniff can smell the familiar scent of Chinese medicine mixed with a hint of the bright spring rain.
In fact, she didn't know what Pei Zhiji wanted to say, but she didn't want him to make a decision that would embarrass both of them out of pity and sympathy. That was definitely not what she wanted.
The rain was getting heavier. She picked up the umbrella handle and tightened her grip. She quickly walked to the gate of the yard and looked around, but sure enough, he was gone.
I don’t know if he got wet.
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