Dare to bring a new look to heaven and earth
In this context, she didn't say "hate," but rather a light, dismissive "dislike."
Warm liquid dripped onto his face, little by little. It wasn't raining indoors; it was the princess crying.
She spent several days on the move, either scheming against the powerful and wealthy or worrying about the people's livelihood. Even when she contracted the epidemic, she was only forced to stay in bed for the first few days to rest.
The princess was so thin she was practically skin and bones; the back of her neck was clearly visible when she looked down. Her cheeks were sunken, and her eyes were bloodshot. She had managed to take a short nap during the meeting last night, but she probably hadn't had a moment's rest.
The princess's actions towards Xiao Diting were beyond what could be easily dismissed with a simple "misfortune."
Humans are not plants or trees; how can they be without feelings?
Even though Pei Wenjin's stance was unclear, this was still a thorn in his side.
In my next life, I want to be a swallow on the roof beam.
Xiao Diting lay on him, curled up into a small ball, burying her face in his collar, just like the scene in his memory, incredibly jarring.
But at that time, she was crying so hard that she almost fainted and collapsed into his arms. There was a gash in her throat, and he pressed on it desperately, thinking about how the rain was so heavy and why the horse couldn't go any faster...
He still can't forget the helplessness he felt then, as if he was always a step too slow and the princess really died that night.
This is what it means when the heart is dead and grief is more intense. When one's spirit and energy are completely exhausted, all that can be saved is an empty shell, and collapse can happen in an instant.
Pei Wenjin assumed that she had been holding back for a long time, so he went along with her and did as she pleased.
Xiao Diting choked up repeatedly, unable to control herself. She couldn't explain why she was crying; she only felt her eyes stinging, her vision gradually blurring, and before she knew it, tears were falling.
Tears burst forth in an instant.
Pei Wenjin was taken aback and tightened his arms around her, knowing that no amount of words could express her suffering, and could only try in vain to offer her some comfort.
The curtains on the bed had come loose at some point and were now completely drawn down, creating a dim and quiet space for the two of them.
"Mingzhao, take a nap. I'll keep an eye on things for you... Ouch."
Pei Wenjin stretched out his hand and pried open the princess's tightly clenched hand, forcefully interlocking his fingers with hers. As he expected, the princess was in so much pain that she couldn't cry out, and her palms were clenched so tightly that they bled.
Xiao Diting gritted his teeth and choked back sobs, almost unable to catch his breath. Through a layer of inner clothing, he turned his head and bit the shoulder of the person beneath him.
Pei Wenjin unconsciously tightened his grip on her hand, letting out a soft "ah," but he suppressed the discomfort of having his throat used as a chew toy, his breath coming in gasps as he raised his chin and furrowed his brow.
In the dim light, all that could be seen were layers of curtains and the only hairpin in the princess's hair, the same one he had recently straightened himself.
He wanted to tell her to be gentle, but the words wouldn't come out. He simply held her tighter, resonating with her pain as if that would make her feel a little better.
They stayed like that for an unknown amount of time, until the princess's breathing became even. Pei Wenjin thought she had fallen asleep in his arms and was about to let go of her to do something else.
Unexpectedly, Pei Wenjin only got up slightly to move her sore and cramped arms before the prince, who was pretending to be asleep, pressed her back into place. Her eyes were still swollen, and when she glared at him, she looked just like a snow rabbit.
For reasons unknown, Pei Wenjin suddenly burst out laughing.
"Laughing at me?" Her voice was still a little hoarse. Lord Pei had wiped the tear stains off her face with a handkerchief. Now she reached out to pull at his collar, wanting to see her "masterpiece".
Pei Wenjin turned over and swatted away her mischievous hand, leaving the princess with an indifferent back view. His own shoulder throbbed with pain; the wound was almost touching his throat. If it had bitten any further, he might have died on the spot.
Lord Pei looked unwilling to answer, shrinking into a corner of the bed in a wronged manner. Xiao Diting composed himself, still tasting blood in his mouth, and felt extremely guilty towards him. He immediately leaned over and coaxed him gently.
Just as Xiao Diting's fingertips touched the back of his collar, Pei Wenjin's calloused hand pressed down on them.
She persisted, her fingertips gently tracing the curve of his shoulder blade, her voice as soft as cotton soaked in warm water: "Young Master Pei, let me see, did I bite too hard just now?"
She deliberately softened her tone, her voice rising slightly at the end, carrying a hint of hoarseness from just crying, yet also a sweet, comforting quality. Her other hand also wandered around to his front, her fingertips hooking around the collar of his undergarment and gently swaying it. "Shall I blow on it for you? Blowing on it will make it stop hurting."
Pei Wenjin's back stiffened like an iron plate. He let out a muffled groan and, unable to bear it any longer, abruptly turned around. The veins on his forehead throbbed, his handsome brows furrowed, and he shoved him in the face with a pained expression: "Can't you, a young lady, be a little more reserved?"
He grabbed her still-misbehaving hand, his fingertips tracing the red marks left by her fingernails on her palm, his anger rising: "If you think I'm a jerk, I'll just get out of here. There's no need to kiss and nibble on someone's genitals like that..."
Xiao Diting was taken aback by his words, and her eyes welled up with tears, but not because she was sad. Instead, she was amused by his "enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens" appearance.
She pulled her hand away from his, intending to tease him, her nose almost touching his: "Then let me see you, and I'll stop teasing you after just one look."
Pei Wenjin turned his head away, his ears turning bright red. He reached out and pinched the back of her neck, like he was holding a restless kitten, and pushed her back: "I've never seen someone check a wound after biting someone! Do you think this is a stamp?"
Xiao Diting snuggled closer to him, resting her chin on his collarbone, her voice growing softer and sweeter: "Young Master Pei—"
Upon hearing the address "Young Master Pei," Pei Wenjin felt as if all his strength had been drained away. He closed his eyes, his face filled with despair, yet he still refused to let go: "Be...reserved!"
The princess refused to give up and wanted to continue her mischief, but suddenly her vision spun around and she was pinned down on the bed, where she was met with a beautiful and pitiful sight.
When Pei Wenjin went out at night, he did not tie his hat up, but simply tied it up hastily. Now his black hair was like a waterfall, sliding down his shoulders and falling into the princess's shoulder, where it intertwined with her hair.
His clothes were disheveled, the collar wide open, revealing a half-sized tooth mark where his shoulder and neck met, already red and purple with patches of bruising. His ears and neck were red, as were his eyes, suggesting he had been holding back pain earlier.
With his hands held above his head and unable to move, Xiao Diting had no choice but to adopt the posture of a righteous gentleman and readily apologize: "I was wrong, I apologize."
Pei Wenjin didn't believe her nonsense and confirmed with her again and again: "If you swear to God that you will not take off my clothes again, I will let go."
"Hey, I've noticed you're really serious! You make it sound like I'm some kind of vulgar person..." She probably knew herself that saying such things was shameless, and her voice trailed off.
Pei Wenjin, unusually forceful, twisted her hand and refused to let go: "You swear an oath first, then I'll release her. I'll be honest with you, young and old."
Xiao Diting was completely at a loss. It was true that she had bullied Pei Wenjin first, but seeing that he wasn't joking and was serious, she obediently did as she was told: "I, Xiao Diting, swear to heaven..."
“Go on, stop pretending.”
Xiao Diting's eyes darted around, and she felt that what she was about to say was still too indecent. She steeled herself and changed her mind at the last minute. She had been speaking too easily and had no idea what to say: "Look at your 'arrogant' appearance, even with our life-or-death friendship, I feel like I'd lose a piece of flesh if I just looked at you. If I really let you become my lover, you'd probably hang yourself with a belt..."
She showed no remorse whatsoever, embodying the word "arrogant" in every way, spouting nonsense and completely disregarding Pei Wenjin's rare sense of shame as a gentleman.
And so, on this peaceful day, the Third Princess managed to drive the Commander away in anger.
He left in a hurry, without thinking, as if there were poisonous snakes or ferocious beasts in the room. When he slammed the door and left, he ignored his subordinates who were looking for him and ran away in a great hurry.
The subordinates were left stunned, staring blankly at the door of the side room.
Could it be that my boss got beaten up for philandering? But that doesn't make sense, isn't that my boss's room?!
Without a second thought, he shouted and hurried after Pei Wenjin, yelling all the way, "My lord—a report from the court—"
Xiao Diting hung up the curtain, his eyes dazzled by the morning light outside. He listened intently to the sounds outside, which were like firecrackers, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
She lay back down with great pleasure, unable to resist complaining that her wicked sense of humor hadn't diminished in years, and started counting down the tasks she needed to handle.
As she touched the lingering warmth of the other person in the bed, her heart gradually grew cold.
Enough relaxing, time to get down to business.
When the snow was at its heaviest at the end of the month, Xiao Diting made his move.
She was already frustrated that she could only pretend to copy the grain bills from two families close to the Yang family. This time, she gathered all the witnesses and evidence, made thorough preparations, and pointed out the Jiangnan aristocratic families connected to the Duqu River bandit case in one go, uncovering other evidence of crimes and concluding that they were guilty of multiple offenses.
For a time, Huaizhou was filled with unease, and no one knew which family would collapse with a wave of her hand, including the former prefect of Huaizhou.
The 60-year-old man was dragged out of his home vault, and before he could even recover his senses, he was thrown into the bustling city street. His past was laid bare before the neighbors, and he and his cronies were forced to kneel and be spit on by the public.
The families of the condemned were surrounded and weeping, but Xiao Diting, with his heart of stone, roared back: "Anyone who dares to obstruct the court's affairs is disrespectful to His Majesty!"
Disrespecting the emperor is punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.
Once the order was given, no one dared to question it.
Xiao Di heard that this commotion had caused quite a stir, and the people were praising her extensively, even surpassing the praise for the woman in the Northwest. She had to write a letter to the emperor to explain the details of this.
The princess was so busy that she barely had time to breathe, so the important task of writing memorials fell to Lord Pei, who rarely got to be her assistant.
Pei Wenjin embellished the events, praising the princess's loyalty and compassion for the people, extolling her virtues in every line, leaving no room for criticism.
When the revised memorial was presented to Xiao Diting, she was sitting at her desk doing accounts. She spread it out, glanced at it briefly, and then carefully put it into her sleeve, laughing and scolding, "Clever words and a flattering face."
Pei Wenjin watched her shake her head with a hint of helplessness, her lips moving slightly. In the past, he would have definitely made some sarcastic remarks, saying that the princess had perhaps changed her temperament, and that her methods and attitudes were far too forceful compared to before.
But in the end, it's not that Xiao Diting has always been so ruthless. A princess with an official position is not someone to be kneaded like dough.
A few days ago, Xiao Diting revealed his identity to the public, abandoning his previous low-key behavior. He specially changed into a scarlet outfit and adorned himself with various gold and silver ornaments that made a crisp sound. He carried the Embroidered Spring Blade of the Embroidered Uniform Guard with him in and out of the mansions of the powerful and wealthy every day.
With her striking good looks, she became the most beautiful figure amidst the snow-covered city walls of Jiangnan.
Where gold and silver clang and clatter, there must be the menacing figure of the Embroidered Spring Blade, its cold gleam fully revealed.
Regardless of who the current prefect of Huaizhou is, with the Embroidered Uniform Guard by her side, Xiao Diting is like the emperor himself, and the entire Huaizhou is her personal domain.
With this, the matter concerning the Huaizhou grain draft is now concluded.
Once everything had settled down, Xiao Diting packed his bags on a quiet morning and prepared to return to the capital in a low-key manner.
Since Ji Shuangqiao had spoken with her after waking up last time, she had probably heard the praises people had for the prince and was completely at ease, so she did not appear among the people seeing her off.
Liu Cheng ordered his servants to load their luggage onto the carriages and horses. This time, the princess said she would not travel by water, but planned to ride back to the capital with Lord Pei to report back.
Liu Cheng led Xiao Diting and Pei Wenjin along a secluded alley. The bluestone slabs under their feet were still covered with morning dew. He lowered his voice and whispered, "Your Highness, rest assured, I have already made arrangements at the city gate. No one will question us."
As she spoke, she turned back to look at Pei Wenjin and handed him a package of oil paper: "This is sesame brittle, a specialty of Huaizhou. Have some to eat on the way."
Just as Pei Wenjin was about to answer, he heard a few scattered noises coming from the alley entrance. At first, it was just a few shouts of "Princess, please wait!" which quickly turned into a tidal wave of shouts.
Liu Cheng's expression changed drastically. He quickly turned around and saw countless people carrying lanterns and cloth bags surging from the street. The old leaned on canes, and the young were held in their arms. Even the market vendors packed up their stalls and followed behind, densely blocking the exit of the long alley.
Xiao Diting turned her horse around and watched as the people gathered around her.
She intended to leave quietly, but unexpectedly, she still alerted people. The first person to rush to her was an old woman with white hair. She dismounted and helped the old woman up.
The old woman tremblingly stuffed a cloth bag into her hand, inside which were several warm wheat cakes: "Your Highness, you have helped us catch the corrupt official. This old woman has nothing to thank you for. Please take these cakes with you on your journey."
As soon as he finished speaking, more things were handed over—wildflowers given by children, amulets embroidered by women, and silks presented by merchants.
Someone in the crowd shouted, "May the princess be blessed with boundless fortune!" Immediately afterward, shouts of "Princess Qingming Festival!" and "Princess, take care!" rose and fell, startling the sparrows in the alley so much that they fluttered their wings and flew away.
Pei Wenjin shielded Xiao Diting behind him and bowed to the people, saying, "Your Highness appreciates your kindness. However, there are still important matters in the capital, so I hope you will not delay His Highness's journey."
But the people wouldn't give way. They slowly moved towards the city gate, some even following them for half a street, constantly muttering about the grain bill: "Back then, the Yang family occupied our land, and it was His Highness who helped us get it back!"
"The bandits of Duqu River have harmed so many people, and it was Your Highness who avenged us!"
Looking at the earnest faces before him, Xiao Diting's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. Only then did he truly realize what a great undertaking he had accomplished.
She took a deep breath and bowed deeply to the people: "I, Xiao Diting, have only done my duty. Thank you all for your kindness. When Huaizhou is at peace, I will definitely come to visit you all again."
These words only intensified the weeping in the crowd.
Liu Cheng's eyes reddened, he quietly wiped his face, and quickly stepped forward to open the city gate.
As Xiao Diting mounted her horse, several children caught up with her, holding up paper slips covered with drawings of little figures: "Princess, these are our drawings of you!"
Pei Wenjin took the note and handed it to Xiao Diting, saying in a low voice, "Let's go. If we don't leave now, we won't be able to leave Huaizhou before dark."
Xiao Diting nodded, reined in his horse, and looked back—the people were still standing at the city gate waving, and the light of the lanterns formed a warm yellow sea in the morning mist.
She gently squeezed the horse's belly, and the horse neighed and galloped towards the capital.
The wind still carried the cries of the people. Pei Wenjin turned his head to look at her and saw her carefully tucking the note into her sleeve pocket, a faint smile on her lips.
Huaizhou was reborn in the snow, and with her passion and dedication, she accomplished a great and inspiring feat, deserving the love and respect of the world.
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