Chapter 198 A Cause and Effect
The night was deep, and the lights were dim.
Her voice was clear and heavenly, making Pei Siyan's heart pound and his blood surge. An indescribable excitement welled up inside him, as if it wanted to break through all constraints. He simply couldn't believe it.
"Yi'er, say it again."
Meeting his intensely aggressive gaze, she took the initiative to wrap her arms around his neck and said earnestly, "I truly love you!"
"Yi'er, my darling, if you love me, don't think about anyone else, and don't give up halfway. You'll be mine for life."
Pei Siyan suddenly picked her up and, before she could react, carried her to the chaise lounge, where she collapsed onto the soft, warm carpet.
His eyes were bloodshot, filled with intense lust, and his almost out-of-control movements startled Dou Wenyi, her face burning. "Pei Siyan..."
Dou Wenyi's body was burning hot, and her voice was shy as she said, "Don't panic!"
Pei Siyan's breathing was heavy, his voice hoarse, "Hmm, when have I ever panicked?"
His large, calloused hands roamed over her waist, the pressure varying from light to heavy, caressing her incessantly. At the same time, he had already sealed her lips with his, stirring them wantonly, and broken whispers escaped her lips.
She was completely limp, her eyes filled with a hazy mist.
...
After an unknown amount of time, Dou Wenyi felt weak and sore in her limbs. She leaned against the tub wall, letting the hot water soak her body. When she turned her head, she saw a figure moving behind the screen.
"Yi'er, are you done washing? Do you need any help?"
Dou Wenyi instinctively refused, her voice trembling, "No, I... I can do it myself."
"You're too delicate," Pei Siyan chuckled softly; she really couldn't handle any more strain.
Just now in the bedchamber, the lights were dim and there were many curtains. Even if they had been honest with each other before, it shouldn't have been this intimate.
Dou Wenyi's mind was in a mess.
Each time it was so thrilling, it almost overwhelmed her...
In a daze, she felt a slight touch on her back. Pei Siyan picked up a cloth and wiped it down Dou Wenyi's neck. As he wiped, his breath almost stopped.
Pei Siyan suddenly grabbed her chin, leaned in, and kissed her, "Yi'er..."
Dou Wenyi's breathing became heavy. At first, she could refuse him, slap him, and act like she was going to die. But now, all she could do was hold him and let him take what he wanted. She couldn't stop him at all.
That night, soft, seductive music could be heard from the bedchamber from time to time... and it didn't stop until morning.
——
Prince Rui was confined to his quarters. Although it was not explicitly stated that he was to be imprisoned for life, his lower leg became lame. All the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital were consulted, but they were helpless and had no solution.
When the news spread, the courtiers who had attached themselves to Prince Rui were instantly in an uproar, showing signs of scattering like monkeys when the tree falls.
The grain depot corruption case was finally concluded. Although a large number of officials were implicated, none of the high-ranking officials' homes were raided. Only Minister of Revenue Jiang was demoted to a county magistrate in Lingnan.
Tan Jieyu looked visibly haggard. Pei Shaoqin had always been a womanizer, which she had never thought was a big deal. But this time, the Crown Prince had used just a lowly woman to completely outmaneuver them, and she was really unwilling to accept it.
She was so angry she wanted to kill Dou Mingyan; she couldn't let her son be ruined by them.
The imperial physicians all said that Pei Shaoqin's lameness was most likely due to poisoning, and that unless they could find the divine physician Ge, Consort Tan could no longer sit still.
She changed into a plain robe, removed the pearl hairpins, and knelt again outside the Chongzheng Hall.
Emperor Muzong did meet with her after all, but what they talked about remains unknown.
Three days later, Consort Tan left the palace and went to the Daxiangguo Temple by carriage to pray for Prince Rui. Little did she know that as soon as the carriage left the palace, someone quietly followed it.
On this trip, she traveled with unusual simplicity, and her carriage was led by a young novice monk at the mountain gate into the back mountain of Daxiangguo Temple.
Tan Jieyu entered the main hall and, after a brief prayer to Buddha, glanced at the two palace maids beside her and said in a low voice, "I wish to discuss Buddhism with Master Huineng. You may wait here."
The Daxiangguo Temple had long been cleared out, and imperial guards were hidden outside. How could servants like them have any say in the affairs of nobles? They all responded in unison.
Tan Jieyu looked slightly nervous. After all, to avoid suspicion, she hadn't met with him for a long time. Over the years, although they had maintained a close relationship and would occasionally meet, she had to be careful now that things were at a critical juncture.
She followed the winding path to its end, looked back cautiously at her surroundings, and then stepped into the room.
The room was filled with the wisps of sandalwood incense. The man leaned against the window, and even though he was only wearing a simple robe, he exuded an extraordinary air about him.
Tan Jieyu threw herself into his arms, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. "Guanlan, what are we going to do about Shaoqing's leg?"
The man gently stroked her hair. "Yu'er, this time it's all his fault for acting rashly, which allowed Pei Siyan to take advantage of the situation. You've spoiled him too much."
Tan Jieyu wiped away her tears and said in a muffled voice, "What's the use of saying all this now? It wasn't easy for me to come out here. I don't care, you have to help me, help our son!"
The man held her hand affectionately. "I've endured humiliation and hardship for most of my life, all for him. Don't worry, I've already sent people to find Doctor Ge's last disciple. As long as we find this person, Shaoqin will have a chance to live."
When the matter was brought up, a glint of light flashed in Tan Jieyu's eyes. "If I had known this would happen, I would have spared that old man's life back then."
The man's expression was somber, filled with deep emotion.
They used a slow-acting poison on Pei Siyan, and because the dosage was extremely small and difficult to detect, it was successful.
Two years ago, Pei Siyan, in order to investigate the cause of Empress Wen's death, coincidentally found the divine physician Ge, who happened to be able to help him treat his headache.
At that time, they sent many assassins to kill Pei Siyan.
Even though they had cornered him on the edge of a cliff and thought he was surely dead, they did not give up the search, even if there were no remains of him.
As a result, Pei Siyan, who had been missing for more than four months, was actually rescued!
When they were about to kill Pei Siyan again, his personal guards brought several hundred Xuanjia soldiers, and only one of the assassins he sent out survived.
After this battle, it was ultimately a case of letting the tiger return to the mountain.
To prevent Doctor Ge from curing his headache, they had no choice but to kill him with a single blow.
The man sighed inwardly, "Don't worry, you can rest assured. I will not allow Pei Siyan to ascend to a high position. The Northern Di delegation will arrive in Tianning City, and I have my own plans..."
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