Chapter 32 "Ah Li, I miss you so much."...
This is utterly absurd! How could such a thing happen? Pei Shen'ai dared not think any further. She immediately got out of bed, put on an overcoat, and went outside.
Xiao sighed as he watched her retreating figure.
Pei Shen'ai left in a hurry and panic. When the maid following behind asked her where she was going, she didn't answer and just kept walking out.
Before she could even step out of the front yard, she bumped into Xiao Chongheng, who had coincidentally come to the princess's residence as well.
"Mother, it's so late at night, why are you out?" Xiao Chongheng smiled and bowed.
Pei Shen'ai was both annoyed and speechless. She waved her hand to dismiss the maids following behind her: "You're here too, aren't you? You brat, tell me the truth right now. What were you doing going to see the Crown Princess? That's the Imperial Guard's business. What you should be doing is staying with Roujia. Are you really that clueless or just pretending?"
Seeing his mother's angry expression, Xiao Chongheng knew that she had guessed the truth pretty much. Ling Zhenli was supposed to be her daughter-in-law anyway, so he simply stopped hiding it and spoke frankly.
"My mother rushed out in a hurry. Hadn't she already guessed correctly? Yes, the woman I love is the Crown Princess."
"You! What did you say! You wretched child, I should have strangled you back then, it would have been better than you causing this catastrophic disaster!"
When Pei Shen'ai heard her son admit it, and even act so self-righteously, she was furious and her anger flared up.
"A catastrophe?" Xiao Chongheng sneered, shaking his head sadly. "I caused a catastrophe? Mother, don't you feel guilty saying that? Who exactly caused all of this?"
Not only did he show no remorse, but he also spoke rebelliously, which made Pei Shen'ai even angrier. In a fit of rage, she said without thinking, "She is now the Crown Princess and has nothing to do with you anymore. How dare you speak to your mother like that for her sake! Xiao Xun! I have really spoiled you so much that you don't know the immensity of heaven and earth. You are to leave the capital right now, immediately, tonight, and get back to your fiefdom. Never come back to the capital again!"
"Hmph, she is not only the Crown Princess, but also the woman my son loves. Mother, you are making me return to my fiefdom because of her status. Are you afraid of the Crown Prince or the Emperor?"
Xiao Chongheng's words struck Pei Shen'ai's heart directly, "So what if the Crown Princess has an affair with her son? Does Mother hope that the Crown Prince will ascend the throne? They are both children of Emperor Gaozong and Emperor Shizong. Your brothers have all ascended to high positions, and you are the only one left. They are both grandsons. Why should I give way to Pei Xuanlin!"
These words struck a chord with Pei Shen'ai, and his expression gradually softened.
That's right. Her brothers are all either crown princes or emperors. Why is it that she can't achieve anything and is confined to the position of princess her whole life?
Seeing that this trick worked, Xiao Chongheng was secretly delighted and pressed on with it.
"Has Mother forgotten how Emperor Rui and you were once irreconcilable enemies?"
"Hmph." Pei Shenai narrowed her phoenix eyes and chuckled. "You, no wonder your mother dotes on you the most. Alright, your mother knows about you. You and the Crown Princess should be careful. Just don't let the Crown Prince find out and lose your heads. The rest is up to your mother."
Xiao Chongheng, having succeeded, beamed with joy: "Thank you, Mother."
Pei Shen'ai doesn't care who the Crown Princess is. All she cares about now is getting herself into the position. Once Xiao Chongheng becomes the Crown Prince, she's not afraid that he won't be able to defeat Pei Xuanlin.
Since her son liked that woman, Pei Shenai thought that since that woman was now the daughter of the Xue family, if she remarried Xiao Chongheng, it would only increase his power.
And Pei Chanlian...
Pei Chanlian had the title of princess, but she had no real power. We can just find an opportunity to deal with her and make room for Xue Yingyue.
...
The Gao'an Prince's Mansion was being searched for the second time. Pei Chanlian hid in the secret passage of the mansion and only dared to come out after the soldiers left.
She was furious but dared not vent her anger. What she thought was a flawless plan turned out to be a complete failure, and she even ended up in a hopeless situation.
Xue Yingyue is a truly despicable scourge.
"The case has been handed over to the Empress's nephew, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. The Crown Prince and Princess Jin'an have also issued an order that all those involved will be sentenced to death."
Yang Chongzheng looked at Pei Chanlian with complicated emotions. If this matter were investigated, Pei Chanlian would not escape death.
Pei Chanlian smiled slightly, placing her soft, boneless hands on Yang Chongzheng's shoulders, while her alluring voice rang in his ear.
"Chongzheng, do you love me?"
"Um."
"Would you be willing to die for me?"
Yang Chongzheng did not answer, but just smiled and sighed, "Since ancient times, those who are affectionate are left with only regret."
***
late at night
Just as Ling Zhenli was about to fall asleep, she heard the sound of someone climbing through the window.
Who else could it be but Xue Haoting? Xue Wenmian forbade Xue Haoting from getting close to Ling Zhenli, so he ordered the servants to keep an eye on him. But the servants didn't dare to disobey this young master, so they had no choice but to turn a blind eye and point him to a secret path so he could climb through the window.
"How dare you! Aren't you afraid I'll tell my father?"
Ling Zhenli got up and looked directly towards the window. Sure enough, Xue Haoting had just leaned half his body in.
Shh... come and give me a hand.
well.
Ling Zhenli shook her head and sighed, unable to bring herself to push him away. She softened and let him into the room.
As soon as he entered, Xue Haoting hugged Ling Zhenli tightly, so tightly that Ling Zhenli could hardly breathe.
"I said... what are you doing? Why are you here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? Let's talk."
Ling Zhenli struggled, and Xue Haoting released her.
Ling Zhenli was waiting for him to continue, but Xue Haoting just stared at her without saying a word, and quietly took her hand.
"What are you looking at? It's pitch black."
Even though he couldn't see anything clearly, Xue Haoting kept staring at Ling Zhenli: "Ali, do you know how many days you haven't been back?"
"...I haven't been married for very long, Xue Haoting, did you eat something wrong today? Why are you saying such strange things?"
It wasn't inexplicable; it was just that Ling Zhenli was avoiding his feelings.
She cannot accept the person who abused her and wants her to fall in love with him.
"Is this strange? Ah Li, you know what I mean, Ah Li, I miss you so much."
Before Ling Zhenli could react or even see Xue Haoting's movements, a dizzying sensation struck her, her lips were covered, and she collapsed onto the bed in a state of confusion.
Xue Haoting pressed down on top of her, kissing her wantonly. He was still as domineering and unreasonable as ever, doing whatever he wanted the next second.
I don't care whether she's willing or not.
After a long while, Xue Haoting released her lips, which had been sucked until they were red and swollen, and found that Ling Zhenli's eyes were filled with tears.
He hurt her again.
The next moment, Ling Zhenli slapped him across the face.
Do you even know what you're doing?!
As she tearfully accused him, Xue Haoting felt extremely regretful and sad.
How could he hurt her again?
Xue Haoting didn't know how to tell Ling Zhenli his true feelings. He was an awkward and proud person, and forcing him to apologize and beg for forgiveness was more painful than killing him.
"I actually like you a lot, I..."
"If you like me, why aren't you good to me? Why do you hurt me?" Ling Zhenli's eyes widened in anger, and she sobbed uncontrollably. "Why do you always only care about yourself? If you like me, you should know how to mend our relationship and how to push me further and further away!"
"I know, I just..."
Xue Haoting wanted to tell him that he was too eager to succeed and only wanted to get closer to her as soon as possible, but Ling Zhenli didn't want to hear his high-sounding excuses.
"What are you? You've only been thinking about yourself, not me, haven't you? You only love yourself, so don't come looking for me anymore, Xue Haoting. You're getting engaged, you're about to get married, do you understand? There's no future for us, don't even think about it anymore!"
"But why? Xiao Chongheng's mistakes are far more outrageous than mine. Why are you lenient with him but not with me?" Xue Haoting's jealousy was burning, and he was determined to win Ling Zhenli's attention.
Ling Zhenli shook her head: "You are different. Xue Haoting, he has never been violent towards me like you have. Xiao Chongheng and I were truly in love at Zuixianlou. If you hadn't played me for a fool from the beginning and had treated me well, then the person I love now would be you. But you didn't. You not only beat and scolded me, but also kept belittling me, making me live in deep self-doubt and inferiority. Yes, Xiao Chongheng was terribly wrong, but you are much worse than him."
Ling Zhenli is absolutely right.
She had an emotional foundation with Xiao Chongheng; their love and hate were intertwined. But with Xue Haoting, there were no beautiful memories, only hatred.
"If I could help you when you need comfort the most, would things be different today?"
"Yeah, you didn't give it to me, so stop dreaming and go back to sleep."
Ling Zhenli didn't want to talk to him anymore and make him angry, so she turned over, pulled the covers over herself, and got into bed.
Xue Haoting thought to himself that it was no big deal, that if he missed it, he missed it, and that things between people were all preordained. On the other hand, he thought that he absolutely could not let go again, that it was up to him to do things, and that if he did nothing, he would end up with nothing.
His conflicted feelings caused him great distress.
Ling Zhenli noticed that he was still standing by the bed and wouldn't leave, seemingly still drowsy, so she said:
"I'm already very tired today, and I'm sleepy right now. If you really want to be nice to me, then start now. Go back to your room and rest so I can get a good night's sleep. Otherwise, don't even think about saying a word to me in the future."
Hearing this, although he didn't know if Ling Zhenli was stalling or genuinely giving him hope, Xue Haoting was very happy. This meant that he finally had the opportunity to spend more time with the person he liked in the future.
"Okay, Ahri, you get some rest. I'm leaving."
"...Don't climb out the window, it's too dangerous. Let's go through the main gate; no one will dare tell Father anyway."
Xue Haoting softened his attitude, and Ling Zhenli also softened, gently telling him to leave through the main gate.
This was hope. Xue Haoting saw hope, and his steps became much more cheerful as he left.
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