There are always unexpected events.
Pang Linqiu tried to push away his sullen embrace, "Can't you just behave? Is it so hard to sit still?"
He nodded, then hugged her tightly in his arms like a cat, finding her adorable even when she was all puffed up.
"Could you go and ride in the same car as them?"
Why?
"So that you can get to know each other better."
"unnecessary."
"..." She'd had enough.
"Stop the car!" she shouted at the driver.
"Whoa—" The driver heard the sound and quickly pulled the rope, stopping the car.
Peng Xuan'an looked at her, puzzled. "What's wrong?"
Pang Linqiu pushed away the hand that was on her waist, stood up and walked straight out, patting the spot where he was leaning against her clothes.
Peng Xuan'an was even more confused and hurriedly followed to ask, "Madam, where are you going?"
Watching her alight from the carriage, she walked straight towards the carriage behind, ignoring him completely. He hurriedly got out and followed, lifting the carriage curtain to see two beautiful women sitting side by side inside. Pang Linqiu sat on the left side of the carriage, by the window.
Two beautiful women blushed when they saw Peng Xuan'an. One was charming and seemingly lively, the other was dignified and elegant, and the third gave him a stern look.
The two had long heard of the talented young man from the Peng family, who was handsome, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and had achieved remarkable feats in his prime. Moreover, he was a sworn brother of the current Crown Prince and enjoyed the Emperor's favor, wielding considerable power.
It's hard for the two of them not to be attracted to each other.
The two women glanced at Peng Xuan'an. His deep black eyes held a coldness, and his high, straight nose and beautiful features captivated them. A look of infatuation crossed their faces. They sat close together, their hands nervously sweating.
Peng Xuan'an got on the bus and sat opposite Pang Linqiu.
"Let's go," he said to the coachman outside the curtain.
Upon hearing the instruction, the driver slowly began to move forward, and the carriage was silent. He looked at her, she turned to look at them, and they looked at him.
She followed their gazes to him, her eyes filled with disdain.
Peng Xuan'an returned the smile, his voice gentle, "Madam."
"..."
The two men looked at her.
She remained silent, like a mute, glancing at him for a moment, then looking at the two of them again.
She was a little annoyed by his clingy behavior, turned her head to look at the scenery outside the window, and said sarcastically, "I didn't expect Lord Peng to be such a leech, sticking to me wherever I go." She just wanted to stay in one place quietly and didn't want him sticking to her.
The two women were startled, shocked that she dared to speak to her husband's family like that, especially calling them by their full names. This way of speaking... if it happened in their own home, they would be punished.
In this patriarchal society, and especially as the wife of a prominent family, how dare she treat her husband so... utterly unreasonable! The two women glanced at him with worry, anticipating his furious reprimand of her behavior.
To everyone's surprise, his eyes were half-closed, a hint of tenderness in them, and a smile played on his handsome face: "I was just worried about Madam's safety, not some kind of leech."
That sounds nice, but it's not true. Safety? Wherever he is, there's only danger!
Her eyelids twitched, and she scoffed, "What? Is a place without Lord Peng a dangerous place?"
An untimely smell of gunpowder filled the carriage, emanating entirely from her.
He smiled gently, his eyes crinkling with laughter. "You can think that way too, Madam."
She was speechless.
"Lord Peng fell into the trap before, and it wasn't exactly safe for him..." She brought up the fact that he had fallen into the enemy country's trap before, and it wasn't a glorious thing for him, nor was it the "safety" he claimed to have; it was only "danger."
He was about to say something in protest when one of the two girls in the car couldn't sit still any longer. The seemingly lively girl in the yellow dress spoke up, defending him: "Sister, watch your words! Your husband is only doing this for your own good. How can you be so ungrateful?"
Another quiet and shy girl nodded, agreeing with her, "Yes, sister, your husband treats you so well. As a woman, you shouldn't be so disrespectful to your husband."
Hearing the two women's sweet voices call out "husband," Peng Xuan'an felt inexplicably irritated. His voice instantly turned cold, his brows furrowed, and his face turned fierce: "Shut up!"
The two were slightly surprised, but given his powerful aura, they obediently shut their mouths, their faces showing grievance.
Seeing him berate the two of them, she frowned and said, "You shut up too!"
He obediently closed his eyes, looking aggrieved.
The two fell silent at the same time, realizing that the mighty and renowned Minister Peng was actually henpecked!
Why would a henpecked husband take a concubine?
The concubines he nominally took, upon encountering such a woman, caused the two of them to feel uneasy. Taking them as concubines didn't guarantee they would gain the favor of a powerful man. The crucial question was whether they could even share a bed!
Pang Linqiu looked away and turned to look at the two of them with a kind smile. Her voice was gentle and without any ill intent, "What are your names?"
The girl glanced at her somewhat awkwardly, inexplicably feeling a strange sense of oppression in the carriage. "Xie... Xie Anqi," she said softly, as if she were a little afraid of her.
An felt she had met a formidable foe: such a gentle act was definitely not friendly!
She nodded. "Okay." She then looked at the other person. "And you?"
The lively girl recovered her composure, smiled naturally, and replied naturally, without showing any fear of her.
"Sister, my name is Luo Qiao, and my courtesy name is Momo."
Pang Linqiu thought Luo Momo was a very nice person, and smiled with satisfaction, "Good, not bad."
Xie Anqi glanced shyly at Peng Xuan'an, her eyes brimming with undisguised joy; it was clear she liked him very much. Afraid of being noticed, she looked away, but couldn't help glancing at him a few more times.
Luo Momo also liked him, and most of their attention was focused on Peng Xuan'an.
A quiet fell over the carriage.
The three chatted for a while, but Pang Linqiu found him an eyesore and went straight back to another carriage.
That night, the four of them rested at an inn.
They booked two rooms, one for her and him, and one for her and him.
Pang Linqiu sat at the desk, flipping through a book with a serious expression.
He leaned against the bed, looking at her with a puzzled expression. Thinking of the matter of taking a concubine, a bitter feeling welled up in his heart. Why? Why did she want to do this? Having children was indeed a big deal, but he didn't want to do it so soon.
His voice was filled with disappointment and confusion, "Linqiu, do you really not know my feelings?"
She glanced at him briefly, then looked down again. "What are your thoughts?"
"I don't like them."
"..." She was a little annoyed.
He thought these two weren't his type, and in the end, he wanted to blame her for it.
Her voice was slightly cold as she replied indifferently, "It's no use if you don't like it. I let you choose, but you made me arrange it."
"I don't want to take them as concubines."
She sighed helplessly, as if scolding a child who had done something wrong, with a pained yet helpless tone: "Peng Xuan'an, you are twenty-one years old now! Young people around your age have already had children. I am only thinking of you, and your parents are worried about this."
He was about to say something.
Her tone was almost pleading with him to obey: "I'm usually too busy with business to fulfill my duties as a wife. Taking concubines is just to satisfy your needs, and I'm willing to let them take over my duties as a wife."
She closed the book. "Besides, I can't walk with you forever." Her eyes were half-closed, filled with sadness, and her long, curled eyelashes concealed the thoughts in her eyes.
He stood up and asked, "Why?"
Why? She found it inexplicably laughable. After handling the affairs His Majesty had assigned her for a few more years, she could finally leave him! During that time, she didn't want any lingering feelings, didn't want his child, didn't want anything! She just wanted freedom, to escape him…
She dared not say it, nor could she express it, so she could only tell her another reason: "There are always unexpected things, and I am also... afraid that you will be lonely in the future." She put it very tactfully.
He didn't understand what she meant, and felt that she meant he was going to lose her. He quickly stepped forward to look at her, and anxiety and fear of losing her welled up in her dark eyes. "What's wrong with you?"
"Are you feeling unwell?" he asked worriedly.
He was worried, "Is it because I've been too busy with official duties lately? Have I worn myself out?"
He asked anxiously, "After we return to the capital, shall I find an imperial physician for you? What's wrong with you?"
She pried his hand away and gently shook her head. "I'm fine."
"Then why did you suddenly say such a thing?!" He grabbed her arms, which were hanging down.
Her expression darkened slightly, and she glanced to the right, unwilling to look at him: "I told you, there are always unexpected things. I was just worried that you would be lonely in the future, so I thought I'd take a few concubines to keep you company while I still have some free time, and cultivate some feelings so that you won't be lonely."
“I don’t need a wife.” He pulled her into his arms, stroking the back of her head with one hand, his face close to hers. “My mind is made up, and I won’t change it. I only want you…”
"..." Wasted words (death smile).
She shoved him away and climbed onto the bed, feeling incredibly annoyed just thinking about it!
"rest!"
He blew out the candle, and the night slowly engulfed the entire room, gradually being replaced by the blazing sun.
After another day's journey by carriage, we hurried back to Kyoto.
Two carriages stopped in front of the main gate of the Imperial Study.
In the early morning, a cool breeze blows, birds chirp, and pedestrians come and go to buy things.
Peng Xuan'an got off the first carriage and turned to walk towards the carriage behind him. Just as he reached the front of the carriage, Pang Linqiu lifted the curtain and came out.
He smiled happily and reached out his hand to help her down from the carriage in a gentlemanly manner.
Pang Linqiu glanced at it only once, and without the slightest hesitation, jumped down from the other side. Afterward, she patted her skirt, looked at Peng Xuan'an standing there like a fool, smiled smugly as if she had achieved something, and turned to walk into the mansion.
He stood there, stunned.
Luo Momo rubbed her eyes, lifted the curtain, and stepped out of the carriage. Seeing Peng Xuan'an's hand hovering in mid-air, she assumed he wanted to help her down. Her face instantly lit up with joy, and she was about to offer her assistance when Peng Xuan'an suddenly realized what was happening. She quickly withdrew her hand, wagged her tail, and followed Pang Linqiu's retreating figure.
Luo Momo was furious, feeling that she was being targeted by Pang Linqiu!
Furious, Xie Anqi stood rooted to the spot and got out of the car. Luo Momo complained aggrievedly, "Anqi!!! What kind of drug did this girl give my husband! Why is he clinging to her like this!"
She shook her head. "I don't know either. She's only that pretty. My husband will get tired of her sooner or later." He patted her shoulder to reassure her. "It's okay, we'll wait patiently."
And so the wait continued until the fourth day.
After four lonely nights, the master bedroom was quite lively, filled with Pang Linqiu's cursing.
Pang Linqiu, who had been rejected for four consecutive nights, was in a bad mood. Peng Xuan'an, who had also been rejected for four consecutive nights, was still unwilling to give up, clinging to the thought of "what if?" and continued to post messages.
Luo Momo and Xie Anqi felt lonely and desolate for the past four nights, and were both indignant. They immediately agreed to go to the old lady and demand an explanation!
He had never seen them. Passing by the side courtyard, they lived as if in a cold palace, hoping every day that he, who had banished them to this cold palace, would turn back and look at them again. Perhaps then they would change their minds and be favored?
For four nights in a row, the two were furious, feeling that Pang Linqiu was doing it on purpose! She was clearly showing her dissatisfaction with them, clearly wanting to monopolize his affections!
How vicious! The more I thought about it, the more wronged I felt, and I wanted nothing more than to expose her evil deeds to the old lady! I had already prepared my words of lamentation.
As the two were walking on their way to see the old lady, they happened to run into Pang Linqiu.
In the red corridor, Pang Linqiu, dressed in mint green, leaned against the railing, gazing blankly at the river view outside. Several trees grew beside the river, their branches budding with unopened blossoms, and carp leaped in the water…
The two who were still talking badly about her instantly sensed something was wrong!
He turned to go back.
But she noticed and called out, "Mo Mo, An Qi, come here." Her voice was casual and languid.
The two were reluctant to go over, feeling that she was trying to intimidate them!
The two women half-knelt in greeting, smiling as they said in unison, "Greetings, elder sister."
She was a little bored. She glanced at Xi Shuang standing beside her. One, two, three, four, just the right time to play the leaf game!
But when she looked up at the two of them, she was taken aback. One was unwilling and resentful, the other was full of complaints. She wondered if she had done anything to offend them...
She decided to offer a simple greeting: "How have you been at home these days?"
"Very good." The tone was still impatient.
"Very good." A perfunctory reply.
Her lips twitched. "Then do you want to...?"
"Cough...cough..." Xie Anqi suddenly covered her mouth and coughed lightly.
She then rubbed her temples and said weakly, "Sister, I'm sorry, I've caught a cold recently and am not feeling well. I'll take my leave now." She half-squatted in greeting, turned, and left in one swift motion, without even looking back.
Actually, she just didn't want to see her.
"..." ×2
Mo: This works too?
Qiu: So fake?
Pang Linqiu suddenly felt a pang of regret and sighed softly. She looked around; the three of them were sufficient.
"Mo Mo, what do you want to do..."
"Cough...cough..." She humbly imitated Xie Anqi's mannerisms.
Her lips twitched.
...Again?
A series of steady footsteps slowly approached. Luo Momo turned her head at the sound, wanting to know who was coming.
I turned my head and my heart instantly leaped with joy! It was him!
Her eyes lit up, and she stepped forward with a coquettish air, intending to softly greet him, "My lord, I..."
Peng Xuan'an ignored her and walked towards her with a square paper package in his hand, smiling broadly: "Madam, these are the latest pastries from Cuiminglou. I bought them for you to try on the way."
Upon seeing Peng Xuan'an's arrival, Xi Shuang withdrew on her own.
Luo Momo was heartbroken and gritted her teeth. This ambiguous scene was actually her!
It can't be such a coincidence! She must have known her husband was coming back! And she must have been waiting here on purpose to stage a chance encounter!
"Okay." She took the pastries, glancing past Peng Xuan'an at her, and sensed that Luo Momo's aura was off...
She swallowed hard, glanced at Luo Momo who was pretending to be nonchalant, and opened the wrapping paper. Inside were five different kinds of flower cakes, each with its own unique characteristics.
"Mo Mo, come and eat too." She reached out her hand and greeted him happily.
Luo Momo glanced unconsciously at the tall Peng Xuan'an in front of her. Peng Xuan'an turned his head, his eyes seemingly hiding murderous intent, his face gloomy. A dangerous smile curled at the corner of his lips. She understood! This was a warning to her.
He was also a little jealous, wondering why he wasn't the first person asked.
Luo Momo also sensed the jealousy. Warning + jealousy = a dangerous signal! She waved her hand with a hint of fear and gave a stiff smile.
"No need, Madam..."
Seeing her answer like that, she didn't press the matter and picked up a piece of pastry.
"Go buy it yourself if you want to eat it," he said coldly, then turned to Pang Linqiu and smiled, "Is Madam happy today?"
The pastry she was about to eat was immediately moved aside, and she put it back, carefully wrapping it in paper and string. She then returned it to him intact, though still wrinkled, and her smiling face instantly turned stern.
"not good."
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