Chapter 35 "He loves me, he loves me..."
"Roujia, look at me and tell me properly, does this have anything to do with you or not?"
Pei Shang'er raised her fox-like eyes slightly, and when she glanced at him, a bright and threatening look floated in her eyes; her gaze was sharp and deadly.
The cell where Pei Chanlian was imprisoned looked luxurious, but it was actually dangerous. The floor was paved with blue bricks, and there were faint traces of blood that could not be washed away. The fragrance of sandalwood should have been calming, but it could not cover up the stench of blood.
Pei Chanlian bullied Pei Shang'er a lot when they were young, and Pei Shang'er remembered every single one of them. Now, she's settling old scores with new ones.
“Jin’an, you don’t need to scare me. What evidence do you have that I harmed the Crown Princess and the Prince Consort?” Pei Chanlian said calmly and frankly. “Those things were done by Prince Gao’an, and he has already admitted it.”
Pei Shang'er smiled as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, her red lips curving into a mocking smile: "He was willing to die for you, and you can say such cold-hearted things."
"Die for me? What does that have to do with me? Jin'an, why are you pinning his mistakes on me? I'm still your cousin, how could you treat me like this..."
"Smack!"
Before Pei Chanlian could finish speaking, Pei Shang'er slapped her across the face.
"The confession says you did it, but you say it was the Prince of Gao'an who did it. What, you dare to harm someone but don't dare to admit it? The Prince of Gao'an is also a fool for taking the blame for you. Don't worry, I will make sure you two keep each other company on the road to the underworld."
Pei Chanlian could still feign composure on the surface, but in reality she was already panicking. Whenever it involved Yang Chengxiu, Pei Chang'er would act like a detective, determined to find out the truth.
A short while later, someone from the princess's residence came to report that the prince consort wanted the princess to return. Pei Chang'er agreed, glared at Pei Chanlian, and then turned and left.
*
Yang Chengxiu's injuries were quite serious, and the imperial physician said he needed to rest and recuperate.
Why did you suddenly call me back?
Pei Shang'er sat on the edge of the bed, looking tenderly at Yang Chengxiu. Heaven had bestowed Yang Chengxiu upon her, dispelling all the darkness in her life and making him her light. Her only reason for loving all living beings was Yang Chengxiu.
Yang Chengxiu reached out and took Pei Shang'er's hand, smiling, "I missed you, so I called you back. Is my princess interrogating a prisoner?"
"Nothing is as important as spending time with you. All I want now is for our Cong'er to grow up quickly."
Pei Shang'er held Yang Chengxiu's hand and looked at the sleeping baby in the swaddling clothes with him. She realized that the bitterness of the past had been exchanged for the sweetness of the future, and it was all worth it.
Her lover and their child are by her side, and she will do everything in her power to protect them from any harm.
"My lovely little Pei Cong, grow up quickly!" Yang Chengxiu held his son in his arms, he loved this hard-won child very much.
Pei Chang'er said gently, "Your father-in-law wrote a letter today saying that he wants to come to the capital to visit you. Your father has already given his permission, and he will be coming in a few days."
Yang Chengxiu frowned slightly upon hearing this: "Does the Crown Prince have no objection to this matter? My father was, after all, the Crown Prince during the reign of Emperor Yang, and he treated Pei Xuanlin rather harshly."
“Father-in-law is no longer a threat to Pei Xuanlin, and Pei Xuanlin naturally has no objection to this matter. Chengxiu, don’t worry, we are family, and no one will dare to disrespect father-in-law.”
Pei Shang'er certainly had the ability to make people treat Yang Xiande with utmost respect, but Yang Chengxiu was always afraid that Pei Shang'er would attract too much attention.
"Shang'er, now that there is a Crown Prince and a Crown Princess, you can't make such a big fuss. Listen to my advice: Your father loves you, so you must seize the opportunity to perform well in front of him. You must not take his favor for granted and remember not to be mean or ungrateful."
"I know, I will definitely listen to you. Not for anything else, but for our Cong'er. Pei Xuanlin and Xue Yingyue have no children, and in the future, our Cong'er might become the emperor."
As Pei Shang'er spoke, she bent down and gently kissed the baby in the swaddling clothes. The child felt the warmth of its mother and slept more peacefully.
"You can't say that outside."
“I know what I'm doing, Chengxiu. Once you've fully recovered, shall we take Cong'er and travel to Jiangnan?”
"As you wish, as you wish."
Before a storm, the sea is always calm, even unusually gentle.
***
The sun was blazing, cicadas chirped in a dense web, bamboo curtains hung down, and the cool tea on the table steamed, its reflection shimmering in the water.
"We're already like this, just say you love me again."
Upon hearing this, Ling Zhenli remained silent, only smiling.
Xiao Chongheng was displeased and frowned: "Can you please not go back to the East Palace?"
“My Chongheng, how have you become so childish? The person sitting opposite you right now is the Crown Princess.”
Ling Zhenli picked up her teacup, slowly blew away the white mist in the cup, and then looked at Xiao Chongheng with tender eyes as clear as a peach blossom pool.
“I know, back in the building, you knew I loved you, I loved you first… Not marrying you is the biggest regret of my life.”
Xiao Chongheng's eyes dimmed, faintly revealing a hint of grievance.
"You have a long life ahead of you, and you'll likely have many more regrets in the future, so why say it all in advance?"
Ling Zhenli chuckled softly, finding it hard to believe.
She didn't want to repeat the same mistake and trusted men.
"I haven't been sleeping well lately, and I'm filled with worries... I keep thinking about the past and about Pei Xuanlin."
"Why bring him up in front of me?" Xiao Chongheng said, displeased.
Ling Zhenli shook her head: "What do you know? He treats me better than you do."
"But I've said it before, that's because you're Xue Run, the daughter of the Prime Minister. If you were Ling Tang, would he still treat you well?"
Xiao Chongheng's words were piercing, but unfortunately, Ling Zhenli was no longer the person she used to be.
“But I am Xue Run, the daughter of the Prime Minister’s family, so he loves me, me as a person. Ling Tang has nothing to do with me anymore. Chong Heng, if you really love me, then call me Xue Yingyue.”
Ling Zhenli's eyes were glazed over as she smiled, having completely immersed herself in Xue Yingyue's identity.
"Ah Li... no matter who you are, I love you." Xiao Chongheng said this, which can be considered as an agreement.
Whether or not she loves someone is not the most important thing to Ling Zhenli right now. What's important is that she makes everyone who knows about her past keep quiet. If that person can't do that, then she'll have to find a way to get rid of them.
...
evening
Pei Xuanlin had just returned from the palace. Pei She had told him many things. The palace in the Cold Palace where Ling Zhenli and Yang Chengxiu were locked up was the same palace where Yang Mingkong killed Pei Xuanlin's mother.
To kill someone is to destroy their spirit. The person who harmed Ling Zhenli not only wanted to defile her, but also wanted to pierce Pei Xuanlin's heart. Only someone who knows the secret of that palace could do something so sinister.
He also heard that Ling Zhenli had gone to the Duke of Yan's mansion, and that Xiao Chongheng had escorted her back to the Eastern Palace.
"I heard you went to see the Duke of Yan today? What did you want to do with him?"
Pei Xuanlin plopped down as soon as he got back, looking extremely tired, his eyes were already closed. But the fact that he asked about it despite being so exhausted proved that he was bothered by the matter.
“His wife wronged me, so naturally I went to confront him. However, he told me about Princess Roujia and Prince Gao’an, then said some words of praise and comfort, and personally escorted me back to the palace. So, I can say that I have reconciled with the Duke of Yan.”
Ling Zhenli was quite adept at lying, displaying an arrogant demeanor, and managed to get away with it in just a few words.
Pei Xuanlin found her words somewhat believable; his mind was currently occupied by that palace, and he didn't want to think about anything else.
"The hall where you and the prince consort were locked up is the place where Emperor Yang ordered the death of my mother..."
Pei Xuanlin loves and trusts Ling Zhenli, and he tells her everything he knows, and is also willing to tell her the truth.
Ling Zhenli's eyes widened instantly.
"No wonder the prince consort said he felt this place looked familiar, but couldn't remember where he was..."
“The Imperial Son-in-Law was once the Crown Prince’s grandson. Emperor Yang must have told him how and where Empress Xianshu died… When my father saw my mother’s body, it was already cold. He held her tightly in his arms, trying to warm her up, but it was no use.”
As Pei Xuanlin spoke, his voice grew softer and softer, gradually becoming choked with sobs.
Ling Zhenli felt his pain deeply and went over to hug him, gently comforting him: "Sanlang, cry. Everything will be alright. You will successfully ascend the throne and become the pride of your father and mother. At that time, you will leave a strong mark on the history books for your mother, so that future generations will remember that she was the mother of a great ruler."
"Ah Li, you're all I have left."
The most vulnerable time for a person is when they are most easily manipulated by the people they love.
Ling Zhenli gently patted Pei Xuanlin's back. She knew that she had already captured Pei Xuanlin's heart.
But she needs to be more stable so that her position will never be threatened.
"Sanlang, take care of your health and don't get too angry."
"Not only that, but also, the former Crown Prince Yang Xiande is returning to the capital." Pei Xuanlin sighed deeply.
"The former crown prince? Isn't that Emperor Shizong's nephew and the father of the imperial son-in-law?"
"Yes." Pei Xuanlin nodded. "The prince consort was injured, and he used this as an excuse to come to the capital to visit him, and His Majesty has agreed."
Ling Zhenli was somewhat incredulous: "His Majesty agreed? How could His Majesty agree? Sparing their lives was already an extraordinary act of mercy, and now he's even allowing them to enter the capital?"
"Your father advised His Majesty that the Yang family should be eradicated completely, and that Yang Xiande should be lured into the capital and wiped out along with his cronies." Pei Xuanlin grasped Ling Zhenli's hand. "The Imperial Son-in-Law is not far from death."
That's good.
Ling Zhenli secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Yang Chengxiu's death did not harm her. Without the Yang family, Pei Xuanlin's position as crown prince would be more secure.
"Father is also thinking of you, Sanlang. If the Yang family is gone, Princess Jin'an will lose one of her helpers... But if it succeeds, Father will have accomplished a great feat. At that time, my maternal family's power will be too strong. Will it arouse His Majesty's suspicion?"
"No, His Majesty is a kind and benevolent person and has no ambition to seize power."
Ling Zhenli was not well-versed in politics and could not offer any help in these matters, so she could only offer verbal comfort to Pei Xuanlin.
She only hoped that Xiao Chongheng would help Pei Xuanlin as she wished.
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