Chapter 19, Part 19: I want to nestle in her arms.
Before the fire started, Pei Heng didn't notice anything wrong. When he was about to catch the man in black, he used his inner energy to throw a hidden weapon. As a result, he felt as if he had gone into a state of demonic possession. A restless feeling rose in his chest for no reason, which almost caused him to lose his grip.
The other two generals who were also there to capture the man in black also failed at the crucial moment, just like him. Pei Heng thought about it carefully and concluded that there must have been something wrong with the last cup of wine he drank.
His unique identity prevented him from taking any risks, so he hid in an empty courtyard before the effects of the drug wore off.
Two light, tinkling sounds occasionally drifted from the eaves, and Pei Heng was almost certain that the man in black was looking for him.
His heart was racing, and a fine sweat broke out on his back. The poison was slow to take effect but penetrated deep into his bones. He was so enraged that he could hardly think straight. All his attention was focused on the sounds around him. As the sounds on the roof faded away, he heard light footsteps approaching from outside the corridor.
He needed to use his reason to distinguish the footsteps of others, but he knew everything about Yuezhi since childhood, and without thinking, he pulled her in.
What does he want to do?
Pei Heng himself didn't know either.
He felt uncomfortable all over, like when he had a high fever or an upset stomach as a child. His body was in a state between excitement and weakness, and he wanted to find peace by snuggling in her arms so that the fire would go away quickly.
He inhaled her sweet fragrance, held her slender wrist in his palm, and even her panicked and unsteady breaths blew onto the back of his hand... She was so soft and light, like a flower bud on a branch that could be picked at will, easily controlled by him.
She smelled so good, and she was so warm; there was a faint scent of alcohol in her breath…
Pei Heng bit his lower lip.
Yuezhi was the most important person to him; how could he inflict his filthy and lustful desires upon her?
Her lips were bitten until they bled, and she could taste blood between her teeth. She didn't regain much consciousness. Instead, she was like a person who was about to dry up in a thirsty desert, instinctively heading towards the place where she could save her life, grasping at this straw.
She has such a good temper; even if she's angry, she wouldn't hit him. She'd just touch him lightly, and she'd probably forgive him.
His blood-red lips parted slightly, almost touching the woman's beautifully curved neck.
"Pei Heng?" she called softly.
Her weak and feeble voice made his heart clench, and the boiling blood in his body instantly cooled down. His grip on her wrist loosened, and he didn't know where to put it.
Yuezhi felt like she was dreaming. After adjusting to the darkness, she looked at the side of the boy's face that was resting on her neck. The boy's jawline was sharp and angular, and below his high nose, there were beads of blood on his thin lips.
She gently touched his injured lips, wiped away the blood with her sleeve, and frowned. "How did you get hurt?"
Hearing her concern, all the jumbled thoughts in Pei Heng's head disappeared, and all he felt was the peace of being by her side.
Others only care about his achievements, abilities, and status, but only Yuezhi cares about him as a person and treats him sincerely.
He almost lost his temper and was rude to her, but she felt sorry for the bite marks on his lips...
Pei Heng's restlessness subsided a bit, and he childishly rested his head on her, saying, "It's okay, I'll be fine in a little while."
Yuezhi lay on the ground, her head gradually cooling down. She stroked the fine strands of long hair in her ponytail, staring blankly at the beam above her, remaining silent for a long time.
"Yuezhi, have you been drinking?"
"A little bit."
"Don't drink it next time, it's bad for your health."
"Um."
Heartbeats mingled, and occasional soft whispers, like murmurs in a dream, answered every question.
In the unfamiliar darkness, the two felt a rare sense of security, not because of the brick building they were in, but because their hearts were close to each other. Even a few words of casual conversation felt like the soothing sound of flowing water in the mountains, relaxing their minds and bodies.
The sounds inside the room gradually subsided. One of them was feeling the effects of the alcohol, and the other was feeling the effects of the medicine. Half an hour later, they finally left the room together.
The servants in the manor were relieved to finally find the two men. They learned from the steward that the assassin's body had been found.
The assassin had been hiding in the artificial hill in the garden, intending to take advantage of the chaos of the firefighting to attack the people in the mansion again. However, Pei Heng's hidden weapon was poisoned. By the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late to save him, and he died in a dark corner.
Yuezhi didn't listen to any further details. She was put into a carriage by the nanny, and after waiting for a while, Pei Heng got into the carriage and went home with her.
After the carriage left the Marquis's residence, Yuezhi finally asked him the question that had been bothering her: "What happened to you in that room earlier?"
Pei Heng remained silent, leaning wearily on her shoulder and letting out a long sigh.
Yuezhi thought he was probably tired, so she didn't ask any more questions.
She raised her hand to rub his cheek, and as she lowered her hand, her eyes looked at the street scene illuminated by the streetlights outside the curtains. She didn't see the boy raise his hand to touch the back of her hand, but it was suspended in mid-air.
It was a rare occasion for the two of them to return home together. Yuezhi watched him enter the east wing before she went back to the inner room of the main hall to sleep.
As she undressed and lay on the bed, she felt restless. Closing her eyes, she felt as if she were back in that secluded little room, as if Pei Heng's breathing was still beside her ear...
I tossed and turned until midnight, unable to fall asleep. It was a spring night, but it felt as hot and humid as a summer day.
Yuezhi got up and poured herself a cup of iced tea. After drinking it, she felt a little better. She sat alone at the table, lost in thought, looking out the window. The west wing was quiet and still, but there was a hesitant shadow in the window of the east wing.
Is Pei Heng also having trouble sleeping?
Yuezhi stared blankly at the window of the east wing, and as if possessed, she put on her coat, pushed open the door, and went out.
In the east wing, Pei Heng sat on the edge of the bed, his heart pounding.
Although the uncontrollable heat in his body had temporarily subsided, his face was even hotter than before. He felt a strange urge to do something, but he didn't know what to do. He just instinctively wanted to see Yuezhi.
He felt perfectly normal in that house, in the carriage, and while he was with her. But when he returned to his own room and faced the lonely night, his body began to feel hot.
Perhaps just one glance at her would be enough.
He swallowed hard, stood up, and walked to the door. He gently opened it and saw a slender figure standing there. The cold moonlight illuminated her snow-white face. She looked up at him with a moment of helplessness in her eyes.
In that instant, it was as if a celestial maiden had descended to earth for him, their hearts in perfect harmony; Pei Heng's breath caught in his throat.
Yuezhi didn't expect him to open the door suddenly. Her hand, which had been knocking, hung in mid-air before falling back to her side.
"Why are you in the Marquis's residence today? Were the assassins who were captured here for the Marquis of Jing'an, or because of you?"
She had many questions for him, from the sudden promotion of him by the Marquis of Jing'an to the inexplicable proposal of a marriage alliance between their families, and the "important matter" he mentioned today—all of which she knew nothing about.
"Ever since you got involved with the Marquis's family, you haven't been as fond of telling me about your time in the army..."
Everyone around her told her that when a man grows up, he should go out and make his way in the world, start a family and build a career. She also knew long ago that with Pei Heng's intelligence and ability, she knew that she would not be able to keep up with him and would be left far behind, eventually becoming a dusty memory in his mind.
But understanding something in your heart and actually facing it are two different things. She couldn't let go easily; she always felt a tightness in her chest.
She slowly lowered her head, but hearing no reply, her heart clenched with fear and pain.
A hand reached into her field of vision and gently tugged at her sleeve.
Looking up, she met the boy's slightly embarrassed, flushed face, and heard him stammer, "It's chilly outside, let's come inside and talk."
He didn't exert any force, but Yuezhi stepped through the door without even hesitating.
Pei Heng was a little nervous. He moved a chair for her to sit on and sat down opposite her. In the same night, with the same face, the hazy intoxication in her eyes was gone, replaced only by concern and worry for him.
Her arrival was like a magic pill; in just a few words, Pei Heng's heartbeat slowed down, and the heat on his face subsided, becoming gentle, like a spring breeze.
He wanted to hold her hand, just like when they were children.
But they've both grown up. He's no longer a child who can cry and whine; he's going to become a man who can stand tall and support her.
His hands brushed over her sleeves, but in the end, he couldn't even hold onto the cuffs, letting them slip through his fingers.
Looking at her gave him confidence and the motivation to fight desperately.
"The emperor is seriously ill, and the court and the people are in turmoil. Marquis Jing'an is unwilling to sit idly by and wait for death, so he cooperates with me to enter the capital under the pretext of purging the court of corrupt officials. By attacking, he can preserve his base in Liangzhou, while I want to strive for a broader future."
Upon hearing this, Yuezhi's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, and she could almost hear the frantic beating of her own heart.
No wonder he stopped talking about military affairs. This wasn't just a fabricated charge; it was blatant treason! If even the slightest bit of information leaked out, Yanjing City would be lost, and both she and he would be doomed.
She opened her mouth several times, but didn't know what to say.
Today, assassins entered the Jing'an Marquis's residence, which shows that someone has long wanted their lives. Sending troops out might offer a glimmer of hope for survival, while retreating would be suicide.
"Will you come back?" she asked, voicing the question that concerned her most at that moment.
"Of course." Pei Heng smiled slightly. "You're still here. Whether I succeed or fail, I will come back to find you."
Receiving his high regard soothed Yuezhi's deep-seated unease, and she smiled as she replied, "Then I'll wait for you to come back."
If things go well, we'll enjoy wealth and prosperity together.
If we are defeated, we will wander the world together.
She was willing.
As the long night fades into the light of the rising sun in the east, and the early spring mist lingers, farewell arrives unexpectedly.
Outside Yanjing city, a procession lined up and flags were raised. Inside the city, parents, wives, and children came to see the soldiers off, and the crowd grew larger and larger.
A slender figure stood on tiptoe in the crowd, trying to make out the boy's figure among the dense crowd in the distance.
"Sister, my cousin is over there!"
Following the direction Hua Qing pointed out, Yue Zhi saw the silver-armored young general riding a horse. He was wearing boots she had made, and his tall, straight back seemed to sense her gaze as he turned around on horseback.
Yuezhi stood on tiptoe and waved to him, her fluttering sleeves like butterflies returning in spring, once again brightening his eyes.
Pei Heng took a deep breath, suppressing the tears welling in his eyes, and waved to her with a smile, telling her to go home soon.
The team set off, departing from the distance.
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