Chapter 44.44 What if I want my elder sister?
In the drizzling rain, some people hurriedly sought shelter, some stood in tents watching the green mountains and forests turn like ink paintings, and some walked through the forest with the imperial edict clutched to their chests, looking dazed.
A fine horse galloped by, and as it passed the man, it shouted, "Catch!"
Liang Zhang looked up and saw an umbrella thrown in front of him. He caught it and then looked at the woman on horseback. She was dressed in a purple wisteria dress, soaked to the bone, but her posture was elegant and carefree, without any sign of dejection or disappointment.
"May I ask your name, young lady? How can I return your umbrella?"
"It's just an umbrella, you can have it!"
He wanted to thank her, but before he could say it, the two of them disappeared into the mountains and forests.
Before long, Jinbao, who had gone to arrange the carriage, found him and urged him to hurry. "His Majesty has instructed that after Lord Liang has gone home to pay his respects to his parents, he should set off for Anzhou. He should not miss the appointed time."
Liang Zhang stood under the umbrella and nodded.
It's better for him to leave, so he won't have to dwell on sad things anymore. He can make a difference for the court and the people as soon as possible, so that his years of hard study won't have been in vain.
Under the cover of rain, the carriage drove away from the hunting grounds.
The gentle rain pattered against the tent, the warm, cozy atmosphere inside still lingering, mingled with the damp fragrance of earth and the faint scent of a woman.
Pei Heng lay on his side, his upper body exposed outside the blanket. The taut lines of his shoulders and arms appeared clear and strong in the dim sunlight. His gaze lingered tenderly on her sleeping face.
Yuezhi was curled up in the quilt on the couch, her forehead pressed against his chest, her hair disheveled, her black hair sticking to her sweaty neck, her long eyelashes hanging quietly, and her rosy lips slightly swollen, like flower petals covered with dew, silently alluring.
The tent was unusually quiet, so quiet that you could hear her breathing and your own still-beating heart.
She frowned unconsciously, turned over, and the brocade quilt slipped off her shoulders, revealing a smooth back, the soft curves rippling in the dim light.
Pei Heng exhaled deeply, his muscular chest rising and falling slightly, his gaze greedily moist, trying to etch this scene into his very bones.
He embraced her from behind, placing a gentle kiss on her smooth spine. The happiness of holding her in his arms was so overwhelming, yet it was always accompanied by an indescribable sense of panic. He needed more, constantly demanding from her, in order to offset the guilt in his heart caused by the lies.
That wasn't enough. He wanted this moment to last forever, instead of using someone else's name to play the role of a gentle and refined gentleman in her heart.
But her body couldn't withstand his further torment, and she fell asleep after only an hour and a half.
Her fingertips twitched slightly, but ultimately she curled them up.
He took a deep breath, his muscles tensed, and covered her with the quilt, tucking the corners in. He then sat up alone, a chill creeping up his bare skin.
Pei Heng sat on the edge of the couch and gazed deeply at Yue Zhi's unguarded sleeping face, imprinting her gentle features into his eyes.
He turned around, put on his robe, tightened his belt, and meticulously sealed away all the tenderness and reluctance in his eyes. When he lifted the curtain and walked out, his face was only filled with the cold, resolute demeanor unique to an emperor.
Cheng Yuan held an umbrella for him, and Duan Yunting ran over from a tent not far away.
"His Majesty has finally found some free time. The royal relatives and princes have already changed their clothes and are now waiting in the main tent, just waiting for His Majesty to reward them with the game and roast the meat over a fire."
This was also a hunting custom: everyone would gather the wild animals they had hunted together, process them simply, roast them over a fire, and then the emperor, who held the highest position, would distribute the spoils as a reward, to show that the royal family was full of martial virtue and that everyone was of one mind.
"Okay." Pei Heng told Cheng Yuan to go ahead and clear the way.
Duan Yunting glanced at Princess Ning'an's tent, which remained silent behind him. When he raised his umbrella to the emperor's side, he caught a whiff of a feminine fragrance on him that shouldn't be there, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
At night, they would always arrange things to cover up the emperor's comings and goings from the palace. Especially on the night of the princess's wedding, the emperor did not return home all night and did not return to the palace until the third day. Since he did not look angry, Duan Yunting guessed that something had happened between the two of them.
Unexpectedly, during today's autumn hunt, countless princes and royal relatives were present, including Prince Consort Liang, and the two of them... were truly deeply in love.
Duan Yunting seemed to remember something and replied, "When we were hunting earlier, the prince consort was by your side, but after it rained, he disappeared. I sent men to search the entire hunting grounds, but we couldn't find him. Could something have happened to him?"
“There’s no need to look for him.” Pei Heng’s eyes were cold. “He already has a good place to go.”
Duan Yunting blinked. "If the princess asks, how should I answer?"
"She won't ask you; someone else will tell her."
When the emperor spoke these words, the coldness in his eyes was more chilling than the glint of a blade. If it were anyone else, they would certainly not dare to ask any further questions. But Duan Yunting was a shrewd man, and with just a few words, he sensed the abnormal relationship between the three of them.
He asked, "The Emperor treats the princess this way. Whether the princess knows it or not, she still needs a proper title. Are we just going to keep fooling her like this, openly or secretly?"
The boy's words left Pei Heng speechless.
He wanted to give Yuezhi a proper title more than anyone else, to let her stand openly by his side. But she liked him as the "imperial son-in-law," while becoming increasingly distant from him as the emperor.
His tone was dejected. "My elder sister is simple-minded and does not know what I have done to her. I am afraid that if I mention this matter, even the tenderness we have now will be gone."
He needed a solution that would satisfy both her and the emperor, allowing her to accept the departure of her husband, but also to accept his love as the emperor… How difficult that was.
Duan Yunting frowned. “We have to try. The princess has never seen Liang Zhang in person, so how could she love him to death? Love is a willing exchange. The emperor is just trapped by his sibling relationship and dares not express his feelings to the princess, which is why Liang Zhang got the better deal.”
"Last time, when His Majesty had trouble sleeping, the princess came to the palace overnight to keep you company. How could such kindness be compared to that of ordinary people? The princess has a soft heart. If you use a little trickery, do you think she wouldn't be moved?"
The boy spoke eloquently, but Pei Heng glanced at him helplessly and said, "Is this all the skill you learned at the music hall?"
Duan Yunting scratched his head sheepishly and touched the sword at his waist. "This humble general's opinion is just my humble opinion. Your Majesty should take it with a grain of salt and follow your own wishes."
Pei Heng remained outwardly calm, but his heart had already wavered.
*
As night fell, everyone shared roasted mutton in the main tent. Pei Heng was preoccupied with state affairs and also with Yue Zhi, who was still sleeping in the back tent. He was restless when suddenly someone below called out to him.
"Your Majesty, may I ask where Princess Ning'an is?"
Pei Heng looked over and saw that it was the Fourth Princess, Pei Yao.
Because of her maternal family's social standing and early marriage, she had no connection with the Imperial Concubine, the First Prince, the Second Prince, and others. Furthermore, she had meritorious service in defending the border. When Pei Heng received her request to return to the capital, he finally agreed.
“Ning’an is not feeling well and is resting in her tent. We invited her to the autumn hunt to help her relax, but unexpectedly, the heavy rain has made her suffer instead.”
Pei Yao stood up. "Your Majesty, I wish to visit Princess Ning'an. Please grant me permission."
Several hours had passed, and Pei Heng was worried that he would be overwhelmed and that Yue Zhi would be lonely after waking up without anyone by her side, so he granted her permission, "Go ahead."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Pei Yao deftly picked up a pair of roasted pheasants skewered on iron sticks from her table, ignoring the disdainful or disgusted looks from the other noble ladies, and strode out, lifting her purple skirt.
When Yuezhi woke up, she smelled a rich, fragrant aroma of meat in the tent, which had been sprinkled with some kind of Western Region spice, making her mouth water.
Before the exit inquiry, Huachun reminded her, "Princess, the Fourth Princess has come to see you with a wild pheasant she hunted herself."
Upon hearing this, Yuezhi hurriedly touched herself, "Why didn't you wake me up when Fourth Sister arrived? It's so rude of you to just sit and wait like that."
Fortunately, she was wearing an inner skirt, so no one could see her disheveled state.
Yuezhi sat up in bed and got dressed. Pei Yao, who was sitting by the charcoal fire roasting a chicken, turned around and comforted her, "Don't rush, the chicken needs to roast for a while longer to get it thoroughly heated. It tastes best when it's hot."
After saying that, seeing the blush still lingering on her cheeks, she smiled and said, "It's my fault for forgetting that you two are newlyweds. I barged in without telling you. Luckily, the Prince Consort isn't here, otherwise I would have been too embarrassed to come looking for you."
Yuezhi blushed at her words, got out of bed and sat by the charcoal brazier, facing Pei Yao. The bright yellow firelight illuminated their faces.
Hua Chun handed warm water to the two princesses, saying, "Princess, please have some hot water to warm your stomachs, so you won't have trouble digesting greasy food and sleep soundly at night."
The two drank the hot water, and Pei Yao rotated the thick iron skewers evenly with both hands, roasting the chicken skin until it sizzled and oily, filling the room with the aroma of oil. She then sprinkled on the spices she carried with her, making everyone's mouths water.
Yuezhi waited obediently, then asked curiously, "Does your sister cook too? She has such amazing skills."
Pei Yao shrugged. "What's the big deal? When I was in Yuezhou, I even went to the battlefield with my husband. I know a thing or two about cooking, fighting, and bandaging wounds."
Hearing her share, Yuezhi's eyes lit up, "Sister, you're so amazing, why don't you stay in Yuezhou and become a female general?"
Pei Yao chuckled helplessly, “Being a general is no easy task. I have no children, which has caused my husband’s status in the family to plummet. No matter how much merit and reward he has earned through hard work and bloodshed, there will be no one to inherit it, and he will be wiped out by his own clan. Thinking about it, it would be better to return to the capital and be a carefree princess. With the emperor’s protection, at least I can ensure my safety and prosperity.”
The wind, sand, and bloodshed at the border are not something ordinary people can endure. Yuezhi felt sorry for her after hearing this and comforted her.
"Fortunately, she's back. My sister is still young. Whether she finds a husband or has children, there's always a chance."
Pei Yao gently shook her head, "I've been through everything, so I'm not in a hurry. But you should take advantage of the honeymoon phase and get pregnant as soon as possible."
The conversation suddenly turned to herself, and Yuezhi blushed, her eyelashes fluttering. "This...this can't be rushed, can it?"
Pei Yao leaned closer to her and whispered, "A man's prime in bed only lasts a few years. After thirty, it's hard to be intimate with him anymore."
"Back then, my father arranged for me to marry him in order to stabilize the border generals. On our wedding night, I found out that he was thirteen years older than me. The passion between us only lasted for the first six months of our marriage. After that, we were like wilted eggplants, completely unable to be helped up."
"I have been childless for more than ten years because my husband is old and infertile. Taking a concubine for him has not helped..."
"Right now you're newlyweds and enjoying your sweet time together, so you're probably not thinking about all that. But as time goes on, your husband won't be home every day, and it will be hard to be alone in an empty house. You should have a child, whether to help you pass the time or to raise someone to inherit the family business. It's better than having to carry on alone. This is my advice from my past experience, so please take it to heart."
Her words were crude yet easy to understand, and Yuezhi nodded repeatedly.
Pei Yao smiled with satisfaction and handed her a roast chicken, "Try it and see if it's good."
Wild pheasants are not as fat as domestic chickens. The fat on their skin is rendered out by roasting, and the aroma of spices is mixed in. When you bite into them, skin and meat alike, you first experience the crispy and oily skin, followed by the tender and chewy meat.
With its unique taste and rich aroma, it truly is a delicacy that can only be tasted in the hunting grounds.
"Sister's cooking is really good." Yuezhi praised sincerely.
"Hahaha." Pei Yao laughed heartily, "Then you should eat it all, and after you're full, have five or six children with the prince consort. Then I'll come to your mansion to join in the fun, so I won't be lonely living alone."
"If you feel lonely, why don't you stay at my house? There are plenty of courtyards here, and I can grow flowers and vegetables and keep myself busy, so you'll never get bored."
Pei Yao was already tempted by her invitation, but seeing the flustered look on the maid's face, she could only smile and decline.
“There’s no reason for newlyweds to invite guests to stay at their home. You’re being too naive.”
A reminder from her reminded Yuezhi of how, just a few hours earlier, she and the prince consort had done many things in this very tent, even while bathing and washing themselves, they were still passionately engaged in their intimate moments.
The water that had splashed on the ground had been dried by the charcoal fire. Yuezhi felt less embarrassed and, blushing, stopped mentioning living together. She ate meat heartily and even tore off a large chicken leg to share with Huachun.
Yuezhi had never seen a snowless winter in Yuezhou, and she longed even more for the heroic figure on the battlefield described by Pei Yao.
Pei Yao said "That's easy," washed her hands, and went to the Imperial Guards in the outer camp to borrow a sword. "I'll show you how to wield a sword."
As Yuezhi wondered what was happening, she felt a sword hilt being shoved into her hand. Someone pressed her back against hers, brushed their arms over hers, and grasped the back of her hands. They stood up while still pressed against each other, and the sword in their hand moved with the force of Pei Yao's palm.
It's not as heavy as I imagined; it's like swaying a flower branch—light, natural, and moving with the flow.
Amidst the hearty laughter of those behind her, Yuezhi's joy deepened, and she lost track of time, not even noticing that her husband had not yet returned to his tent.
*
The autumn hunt lasted for three days. During the day, Yuezhi rode horses, strolled, and chatted with Pei Yao. At night, she slept peacefully with her "Prince Consort" as usual, and was very happy.
A few days after the autumn hunt ended, winter soon arrived.
A bleak winter wind blew by, swirling up the withered leaves in the yard, leaving only bare branches and frost-covered ground. A thin layer of ice formed on the lake, and only withered lotus leaves listened to the rain in the water.
As the weather grew colder, the underfloor heating was turned on in the main courtyard. In the warm bed at dawn, Yuezhi slowly woke up and instinctively reached for her pillow, only to find that her lover's body temperature was gone.
It was freezing cold, all the flowers and plants had been moved into the greenhouse, and no vegetables could be grown in the fields. The wine she had brewed herself was still quietly fermenting in the kitchen. All she could think about was that there was nothing she could do.
Since the prince consort was busy with official duties, she wondered whether to invite He Zhiyan to her residence or visit Pei Yao's residence.
As she thought about it, she got up, dressed, and bowed before the Guanyin statue behind her bed to pray for a child before leaving the house.
After consummating their marriage, she chose an auspicious day to invite the gods, cleared out a space behind the bed, took the Guanyin statue of Guanyin who grants children out of the box, placed it on the altar, lit incense, and offered it, hoping that it would bless her to have children soon.
Children from ordinary wealthy families usually get married at seventeen or eighteen, and by their twenties they are already parents of two children. She and her husband are already quite old, so they should hurry up.
Upon arriving at the back room, before the meal, Su Jingyun first brought her a bowl of fertility-enhancing medicine and asked her to drink it.
After breakfast, I took my usual medication.
Taking two bowls of medicine every day, Yuezhi felt like she was turning into a walking medicine cabinet. She reached out to him to take her pulse, "Will my current constitution affect my ability to conceive?"
Seeing her shy yet expectant expression, Su Jingyun felt pity for her, but he couldn't tell her the truth. He only said, "Princess, your health has improved. As for conceiving, it's best to let nature take its course. The more you think about it, the more it will affect your mood and make it harder to conceive."
"Oh." Yuezhi nodded. "Then I'll think less about it."
As newlyweds, she and He Zhiyan should have a lot to talk about. Just as she was about to send someone to invite Zhiyan over, she heard a report from outside that a palace eunuch had come to deliver a message.
"This afternoon, His Majesty wishes to meet with the Princess in the East Warm Pavilion to have a private conversation. Please prepare yourself and come with me to the palace."
Pei Heng wants to see her?
Yuezhi was overjoyed. She brought along some lotus seed candy she made in her spare time, a jar of fruit wine she had brewed when she first entered the manor, and a soft armor from the storeroom. It was a gift from Pei Yao after she returned from the hunting grounds. She thought that since she couldn't wear it, she might as well give it to Pei Heng.
She entered the palace carrying large and small bags of things, and under the guidance of the eunuch, she went to the East Warm Pavilion, put down her things, and waited for Pei Heng to come and see her when he had time.
The palace was strictly governed and exceptionally quiet. Yuezhi sat on a soft couch by the window, only able to hear her own breathing. In the stillness, the waiting time slowly stretched out, becoming somewhat unbearable.
The palace maids served snacks and hot tea, but Yuezhi had no appetite for them.
Before long, the door opened, and the young emperor, bringing with him the chill of early winter, entered the East Warm Pavilion. He did not go to the throne in the center, but went straight to the soft couch where Yuezhi was sitting.
As he walked, he removed the cold cloak from his body, leaving only a warm, dark gold inner robe. He sat down beside her, his posture relaxed.
"It's been so long since I've seen my elder sister. Has she missed me?"
Hearing this voice, Yuezhi felt a little dazed, as if the voice was somewhat similar to the one she heard every day by her pillow.
Upon closer listening, Pei Heng's voice was found to be clearer and more restrained, carrying the vigor of youth, quite different from the deep and steady voice of the prince consort.
Because of a single sentence, her thoughts drifted to the驸马 (the驸马, the驸马). Yuezhi felt somewhat guilty towards Pei Heng. The two hadn't seen each other for some time, and even though she was in front of him, her mind was still on the驸马… She couldn't do that.
She took a breath, turned to look at him following the sound, placed her palm on his shoulder, and touched his physique through his dragon robe. He seemed to be a bit stronger than the last time she saw him.
"Looks like you've been eating well lately, you've gotten a lot stronger. Have you been sleeping well at night?"
Pei Heng smiled at her, the marks he had left the night before still visible on her neck where her collar was exposed. His heart was filled with desire, and he raised his eyes, saying, "Thanks to my elder sister, I am doing well."
"It's just that winter has arrived recently, and I remember in previous winters, my elder sister would always accompany me in the room to read and practice calligraphy. Now that we are separated, it feels much more lonely by my side."
His voice carried just the right amount of intimacy and a hint of barely perceptible complaint. To Yuezhi's ears, it even sounded a little like a spoiled child, as if he was complaining that she had neglected him.
She slowly withdrew her hand and murmured, "If you feel lonely, then hold a selection of concubines to enrich your harem as soon as possible. I advised you to get married before, but you didn't take it to heart."
"What's so great about other people?" the young man asked, acting like a child and leaning his arm on her shoulder.
"In my heart, no woman is better than my elder sister."
Yuezhi was slightly taken aback, feeling ashamed of being used as an "excuse." Her temper flared up, and she grabbed his arm and punched his shoulder hard twice.
"Where did you learn such nonsense? How can you compare me to your future empress? I see there are countless beautiful girls in the capital. You are too picky and choosy, and you are not good enough for them."
Pei Heng was being hit by her while she grabbed his sleeve, but he didn't dodge or avoid it; instead, he felt a sweet warmth in his heart.
After Yuezhi finished hitting him, she realized that this was the imperial palace, not her princess residence, and hurriedly withdrew her hand.
He smiled as he looked at her, like a cat that loves to scratch, then like a delicate flower: this was a side of her that only he could see, a side that even the "prince consort" had never seen.
Pei Heng gestured to the eunuch to have tea served. A palace maid brought in milk tea and said, "Please have some tea, Your Majesty and Princess."
He picked up a cup of tea, touched the inside of the cup with his lips to test the temperature, and then naturally handed it to her. "Your Majesty, please try this. I ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare it to your liking, with honey added to warm you up and soothe your lungs."
Yuezhi reached out to take it, and Pei Heng's fingertips lingered briefly when they touched hers, as if he were casually stroking her slightly cool hand with the back of his fingers.
She paused slightly, took the teacup, and thanked him softly, "Thank you for your concern and for remembering my preferences."
"My relationship with my elder sister is different from that of others, so naturally I have to be concerned about her." Pei Heng's tone was gentle, but his gaze subtly swept over her lowered eyelashes and cherry-red lips.
"After the Empress's marriage, have the servants in the manor been serving her well? Or is there anything the Prince Consort has done that's not considerate..."
He paused, his voice carrying a touch of youthful naiveté, and said with concern, "He is, after all, a man. Even if he wants to treat my elder sister well, he probably can't be bothered to know her feelings or be so considerate. How long has my elder sister been sitting in the warm pavilion? Why are her hands still so cold?"
As he spoke, he reached out from behind her, as if just wanting to feel the warmth of her fingertips, and gently touched the back of her hand, which was hanging down on the soft couch, with his warm palm.
They parted in an instant, leaving no time for thought.
Yuezhi, however, reacted as if burned by a flame, her fingertips almost imperceptibly curling up as she pulled her hand back into her sleeve.
"It's very warm inside the palace, but I'm used to being weak, so it's fine." She avoided the topic of the prince consort, feeling that the gazes around her were somewhat scorching.
A dark glint flashed in Pei Heng's eyes. Seeing her drink the milk tea, he took the empty teacup and placed it back on the tray.
He gestured for the servants in the room to leave, and the eunuchs and maids withdrew, even Huachun followed them out.
Yuezhi heard faint footsteps inside the hall. Before she could ask anything, she felt a hand touch her collar.
Her fair neck was briefly exposed to the young man's eyes. Yuezhi quickly slapped his hand away, gathered her collar, and turned to him in surprise: "What are you doing?"
It wasn't my imagination; Pei Heng was acting really strange today.
“Your Majesty may not see it, but I see it clearly. Is this how the Prince Consort shows his consideration for Your Majesty? Knowing that you are frail, he still makes such insatiable demands.” Pei Heng stood up, and the ambergris and the cool scent emanating from his body quietly enveloped her.
Who would bring up their sister's bedroom affairs? Yuezhi's face flushed red, and she was somewhat unhappy about his overstepping of boundaries.
"Why is Your Majesty asking about my private affairs with your son-in-law when you don't concern yourself with your own marriage?"
She had never heard him talk about matters between men and women, and seeing that he didn't seem to care much about getting married, she assumed he was just young and clueless. She was even more surprised when he brought it up on his own initiative.
"I think you've gone mad. Why don't you tell me what kind of woman you want, and I'll try to find her for you?"
Yuezhi was depressed, and her expression had changed. Pei Heng saw this and still tried to probe her relentlessly.
"What if I want my elder sister?"
He asked in a low voice, so close to my ear, his breathy tone teasing my senses.
Yuezhi's body tensed imperceptibly, her breath hitched slightly, her brows furrowed, and she asked him incredulously, "Aheng, are you joking with me?"
Not hearing a definite answer, she leaned on the soft couch and got up, as if there were a trap around him and she just wanted to escape as soon as possible.
Pei Heng must have lost his mind.
She called out "Huachun" twice, but no one answered. She could only feel her way out by touching the cabinet by the wall. She had only taken two steps when the wide sleeve hanging down her wrist was pulled by the person behind her.
The force was not strong, just like when you were a child and felt uneasy, you would hold her tightly in front of strangers, unwilling to leave her side.
"Let go." Yuezhi gritted her teeth, feeling somewhat aggrieved. "I know you've grown up and seen more of the world, and you're not as well-behaved and sensible as you were when you were little. But I treat you like a younger brother, and you make fun of me? I watched you grow up; I'm your older sister. How can you treat me like an ordinary woman?"
Tears were welling up in her eyes, but the young man's tears fell first, like pearls landing on the back of her hand that was being held.
"Your Majesty, don't go. It was my fault. I shouldn't have spoken so rudely... I just... I just..."
He took two steps forward, resting his forehead against her thin shoulder and back, his voice muffled, full of grievance and disappointment.
"After my elder sister got married, she only had eyes for her husband. He would take care of her every day, be considerate and attentive. Once she had that family, she forgot about me... The palace is so cold and desolate, I don't even have anyone to confide in."
Yuezhi paused in her struggle, feeling a pang of sadness.
Pei Heng took the opportunity to tighten his arms around her, like a child afraid of being pushed away. "I was wrong just now, but I just wanted my elder sister to look at me more."
His voice grew lower and hoarse, with a nasal tone: "Does having a prince consort mean you no longer want Ah Heng?"
The young man's hot, damp breath burned her back through her clothes.
Yuezhi's tense body unconsciously relaxed, and the shock and anger in her heart were shattered by his series of aggrieved accusations and affectionate whining.
Yes, he is only nineteen years old. He was taught benevolence and righteousness from a young age, but he did not receive any love from Empress Zhangsun or the late emperor. He was like an adult at such a young age. When he was sad and scared, he could only hide in her arms and cry. Now that he has ascended the throne, he is even more lonely.
After she got married, she focused all her attention on her husband and neglected him. Perhaps he was just too lonely.
Yuezhi knew the fear of that loneliness and helplessness, sighed softly, and finally softened her heart.
She raised her hand, just as she had done countless times before, and took his hand that was gripping her body. She turned around and gently patted his back, her tone softening, filled with helplessness and heartache.
“Good Ah Heng, how could I not want you? But as the emperor, you should be mindful of your words and actions.”
Seeing her soften, Pei Heng subtly curled the corners of his lips in front of her. The smile was fleeting, though the tear tracks on his cheeks remained, and his voice was still choked with sobs and dependence.
"Then, my royal sister, promise me that you will come to the palace to see me often, day or night, and you are not allowed to only think about your husband..."
Yuezhi felt relieved. The unsettling ambiguity she had felt earlier seemed to be just her overthinking. All that remained was guilt towards Pei Heng, whom she had ignored.
"Okay," she replied gently, ultimately unable to bring herself to be cruel.
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