53. Chapter 53 Living Together
Xiaoxiao didn't want to be a little girl. After meeting his eyes with a slight smile, she couldn't say no and nodded slightly dejectedly.
Seeing that she was quite unhappy, Pei Xiuhan rubbed her head and said, "Little girl, do you know how much advantage you have taken? In my entire life, I have only doted on you."
His words were indeed easy to misinterpret. Xiaoxiao's cheeks couldn't help but feel hot. Even though she knew that the "favor" he spoke of was just his love for the child, Xiaoxiao's heart still beat faster.
Thinking of Gu Zhen, she gradually calmed down. She tried to suppress her heartbeat and gave Pei Xiuhan a slightly mischievous smile. "Brother, don't worry. I won't let you suffer any loss. I will definitely be filial to you in the future."
Pei Xiuhan couldn't help but choke at the word "filial piety". He rubbed her head unhappily and asked, "Is my brother really that old?"
There was a hint of coldness in his eyes. Xiaoxiao felt a little guilty when he looked at her. She denied it repeatedly, "I'm not old! Brother is in his prime! He's in the prime of his life."
The word "prime-aged" still made Pei Xiuhan blush. He pressed his teeth against the back of his jaw, enduring it again and again before finally acknowledging the fact.
He patiently taught her a lesson, "Old age has its advantages. Those noble ladies in the capital who married young men always had a chaotic marriage. Only when you marry an older man will you learn to be tolerant and considerate."
Xiaoxiao didn't expect that he knew about all this. She couldn't help but respect him, "Brother, you know so much."
Pei Xiu Han couldn't help but pinch his brows. For the first time, he felt that he couldn't keep up with the little girl's thinking.
Could it be that he is really old?
The summer was extremely hot. Even though Xiaoxiao didn't do much exercise, she was still sweating. Thin layers of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose. She chewed on a candied haws while following Pei Xiuhan out of the garden.
When walking out, Xiaoxiao saw a few familiar faces. These people all came from good families. They were Zheng Danyun, Zhong Yan and others. Xiaoxiao recognized them at a glance.
Zheng Danyun has now been engaged. The man serves in the Jinyiwei and has a good family background and good character. The marriage was arranged by Duke Han Guo himself.
Zheng Danyun was never satisfied with this marriage. She always subconsciously compared him with Pei Xiu Han. Every time after the comparison, she felt unwilling, but she did not dare to disobey her father. Because she was in a bad mood, she took the handkerchief and handed it out for fun. Unexpectedly, she saw Pei Xiu Han.
As soon as she saw him, Zheng Danyun's eyes were unconsciously glued to Pei Xiuhan. The man was dressed in a black brocade robe. He looked like a banished immortal and had an extraordinary aura. Just standing there quietly, he stood out from the crowd.
Zheng Danyun discovered that he had a rare and exquisite purse hanging around his waist, and she couldn't help but glance at it several times.
Xiaoxiao curled her lips at them and greeted them briefly. Only then did Zheng Danyun look at Xiaoxiao.
The girl was wearing a snow-white skirt and stood beside Pei Xiu Han. She smiled sweetly and her bright eyes seemed to reflect the stars. She was both well-behaved and charming. Few people could combine these two temperaments into one, but she did it.
Even though her beauty was enchanting, it was also pure as a clear spring. The noble ladies couldn't help but look at her a few more times, and they felt that every time they saw her, the girl in front of them seemed to become more beautiful.
It makes people envious and jealous.
The ladies didn't dare to look at her any longer and quickly bowed to Pei Xiu Han. Pei Xiu Han nodded slightly and then pulled Xiao Xiao away.
Zheng Danyun's gaze lingered on Pei Xiuhan's hand for a moment, and she felt that the two of them were a little too close.
Her cousin also said, "Isn't Zhang Xiaoxiao going to enter the palace in the future? Why is she out with the Regent? They should be out having fun, right?"
Before she could finish, Zhong Yan said calmly, "The Prince Regent is very busy and doesn't like noise. How could he possibly be accompanying a little girl? They must have met by chance."
Zheng Danyun continued to stare at their backs, feeling that this wasn't just a chance encounter. She remembered Pei Xiuhan had accompanied Xiaoxiao to the ice rink. Xiaoxiao was still young then, and Zheng Danyun hadn't thought much of it. But now, she felt a little alarmed. Could it be that he had feelings for Xiaoxiao...
Zheng Danyun didn't dare to think further. After all, Xiaoxiao was so beautiful that even if she were a man, she might not be able to control herself.
Zheng Danyun felt a little irritated for no reason.
Xiaoxiao only noticed that they were secretly looking at Brother Pei. She took another bite of the candied haws and found it was not as sweet anymore.
She bit off two at a time, her cheeks bulging with food, like a little white rabbit gnawing on a carrot, so cute.
When Pei Xiuhan saw her little look, a smile unconsciously appeared on his lips. He reached out and wiped the syrup that was on her lips.
Not only on the lips, but also on Xiaoxiao's fair cheek.
He didn't think much when he wiped it, but when his thumb touched the girl's soft lips, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Xiaoxiao held her breath unconsciously, her eyes fixed on his overly handsome face, and she even paused in biting the candied haws.
The next moment, Pei Xiuhan removed his thumb and said, "There's a piece on my face too. If I eat any more, I'll turn into a little cat."
Xiaoxiao hurriedly raised her hand and wiped off the small amount of syrup on her face.
Pei Xiu Han unconsciously brought his thumb to his lips and used his tongue to roll away the syrup on his thumb. It should have felt greasy, but after putting it in his mouth, it tasted strangely sweet.
Xiaoxiao accidentally saw this scene, her face almost red as blood, and the villain in her heart screamed unconsciously, he, he, he...
Pei Xiuhan was not embarrassed at all, and the corners of his lips curled up unconsciously, exuding a "fox spirit" feeling from his whole body.
After meeting Brother Pei's almost calm gaze, Xiaoxiao's pounding heart gradually returned to normal. She obediently reached out and handed him the candied haws, "Brother, have this."
Pei Xiuhan:...
Does he want to eat this?
Pei Xiuhan glanced at her pink lips and saw that she was not understanding at all. He clicked his tongue and took the candied haws.
Come on, hunting has its fun.
Pei Xiuhan sent her back before returning to the palace. He had no experience in love between men and women, and really didn't know how to please the girl, so he simply called Hongye over.
Xiaoxiao didn't finish eating the last candied haws until she returned to the courtyard. She washed the small wooden stick carefully several times, and found a red rope to tie it to the small wooden stick to distinguish it from the other small wooden sticks. After all, this stick was a little different. This was the first time she and Brother Pei ate a candied haws together.
Xiaoxiao felt both sweet and tormented. Thinking that he might get married soon, she felt that her behavior was not appropriate.
She hesitated for a long time and was reluctant to throw these things away. She even set a time limit for her love in her heart: when he formally proposed marriage, she would forget him, and these things she treasured could only be kept until then.
Xiaoxiao felt better after setting a deadline.
At night, Xiaoxiao had a dream. It was a rare occasion for her to dream of Brother Pei, but this dream made her feel particularly ashamed. She actually dreamed of herself eating candied haws on the street.
When Brother Pei saw the syrup on her lips, he did not reach out to wipe it off, but simply lowered his head and rolled away the syrup on her lips.
Xiaoxiao's heart almost stopped beating. She was awakened by shock. Along with the shame came a deep panic. She always felt that her feelings for him were deepening step by step, as if they would deepen every time she saw him.
Her original love was very simple, she just hoped that Brother Pei would be well. But now, she actually developed a strong possessive desire and even began to covet his beauty.
Xiaoxiao crawled into the bed, not only her face was red as blood, but her whole body was flushed with shame.
She had no idea that someone was even more extreme than her. In her dream, he cruelly covered her whole body with syrup and asked her repeatedly whether he was old or not.
Only when the little girl burst into tears of shame did he calm down and swallow the cloyingly sweet syrup mouthful by mouthful.
When he woke up, Pei Xiuhan's eyes were extremely deep. He licked the corner of his lips, as if the sweetness still lingered between his lips and teeth.
When he first dreamed of her, he would blame himself a little, but now he felt a little regretful that the dream was too short. After he put on his robe and went downstairs, he became the regent who seemed to have no desires.
*
Anguo Gongfu, inside the bamboo house.
Mo Chuan hadn't eaten for several days. His pale face showed a sickly weakness. Seeing him torturing himself again, Qin Dian felt very uncomfortable.
Qin Dian was actually not a servant in the Anguo Mansion. He was about the same age as Mo Chuan, and his family background was not bad. His father was the late emperor's tutor. When the late emperor was still the crown prince, he was schemed against by the third prince more than once. His father and grandfather were very loyal members of the crown prince's party, and both died at the hands of the third prince.
The third prince even wanted to wipe out the entire clan, including him, but it was Mo Chuan who saved him at that time.
Qin Dian is a stubborn person who always wants to repay Mo Chuan, but Mo Chuan drives him away. Saving him is just a piece of cake for Mo Chuan, so naturally he doesn't need to work for him like a slave.
Later, something happened to Mo Chuan. After learning that Mo Chuan was blind and lame, Qin Diancai came to the Anguo Mansion again and vowed to serve Mo Chuan until his death. Mo Chuan tried to drive him away many times but failed.
The reason why Qin Dian knew about Xue Ji was because one time, Mo Chuan got drunk and treated him as his brother, and kept talking about Xue Ji.
Only Qin Dian knew how much Mo Chuan blamed himself for what happened that year. He refused to treat his eyes and legs, ultimately to punish himself. He always believed that he was the one who harmed his brother.
Nowadays, everyone only remembers his aloof and cruel character, but Qin Dian is the only one who still remembers how high-spirited and righteous he was when he was young.
Therefore, seeing Mo Chuan like this, Qin Dian felt particularly distressed. He brought the food to him again and urged, "Master, please eat something! Even if you blame yourself, Miss Xue Ji is gone. The dead are gone, and the living are like this. Her child may still be alive."
After hearing the last sentence, Mo Chuan finally reacted. He pursed his thin lips tightly, and his profile looked particularly thin in the sunlight. "Go and check whether this child is alive or not."
Seeing that he was finally willing to speak, Qin Dian breathed a sigh of relief, "Don't worry, I will find out everything as soon as possible. Master, please take good care of yourself while I'm away."
Mo Chuan nodded. If his brother really left behind a bloodline, he would definitely be happy if he still had a spirit in heaven.
*
In the next few days, Xiaoxiao did not leave the house. Her life did not change much. She still copied rare books, studied, and made clothes for Brother Pei. She dragged it out for another two days and finally finished the clothes.
She remembered that Brother Pei liked to wear purple clothes, so she made him a crimson purple robe. After the clothes were made, Xiaoxiao asked Luzhu to bring it to him when she went to the palace. When Pei Xiuhan saw the clothes, he thought that the little girl had finally come to his senses. But when he learned that she had already made a suit for Zhang Li, he was filled with jealousy.
He was so busy that he forgot about transferring Zhang Li, so he just put it on the agenda today.
It is definitely not possible to transfer him far away. If he needs to be away for a year or two, he might take Xiaoxiao with him.
He could only find him a temporary job and let him leave for a while. Thinking that there were also bandits causing chaos in Baozhou, Pei Xiuhan gave an order to General Lu with a stroke of his pen, asking him to set off that day to suppress the bandits and take Zhang Li with him.
General Lu originally wanted to promote Zhang Li, as he could gain military merit by going to suppress bandits. When he received this order, he naturally agreed with pleasure.
On the third day, Xiaoxiao learned that Zhang Li was going to leave Beijing again. Although Baozhou was not far from the capital, it was not close either. It would take several days on the journey alone, and it was unknown whether he could return in a month.
Xiaoxiao was somewhat worried and even went to Huguo Temple to get a peace amulet for him.
On the second day after Zhang Li left, Butler Li came to the courtyard to take Xiaoxiao to Prince Yan's Mansion.
Xiaoxiao didn't want to go. She was afraid that if she got close to him, she wouldn't be able to hide her feelings, so she refused. "Thank you, Steward Li, for making this trip. I won't go. With Xiaoxing and Sister Luzhu here, the courtyard is safe. Please thank Brother Pei for me and tell him not to worry about me."
Steward Li's order was to persuade her to go, but he was unwilling to go back. He immediately said, "The capital has been unsafe lately. Some time ago, the prince captured a spy from the Great Jin Dynasty who was plotting to murder the emperor. Fortunately, the prince discovered him in advance. You are the prince's savior, and it would be easy for the enemy's spies to target you."
Butler Li didn't notice that when he mentioned "spy", Xiaoxing's body stiffened and his palms were slightly sweaty.
Butler Li continued to persuade her, "It's a little unsafe to stay in the courtyard. The prince has been very busy lately and probably doesn't have time to worry about your safety. Miss, you should move to the palace. If you stay there, the prince won't have to worry too much."
He has a silver tongue and Xiaoxiao is no match for him. In the end, she is persuaded by him to go to the palace. Xiaoxiao does not want her existence to be a burden to Brother Pei.
The new house will be renovated in a few days, and then we can move directly from the palace to the new house. Xiaoxiao plans to live there for only a few days and then move out after the new house is renovated.
The two mansions are so close to each other that even if there are spies, they probably won't dare to get too close to the palace.
After Butler Li persuaded her, he asked the servant to help move the things. Xiaoxiao stayed to tidy up the yard, picked all the ripe watermelons, and moved them to the palace.
After she cleaned the courtyard, she took Xiaoxing to Prince Yan's Mansion.
When the carriage stopped at the door of Su Yuexuan, Xiaoxiao remembered an important thing. Didn’t Brother Pei move to Su Yuexuan?
Seeing the servant carrying her things into the courtyard, Xiaoxiao hurriedly said, "Wait a minute, don't carry them yet. Doesn't Brother Pei live here? I'll live in the next courtyard."
Butler Li's eyes twinkled as he smiled, "Miss Xiaoxiao's things are still in your original bedroom. No one has touched them. The prince lives in the east wing, so it won't affect your living space. The courtyard next door can't be cleaned up in a short while, so Miss Xiaoxiao, please stay here for the time being."
Xiaoxiao felt something was wrong. Even though they were not living in the same room, it was not appropriate for a man and a woman to live in the same yard.
"I'd better move to the next yard. I can help clean it up."
Butler Li didn't dare to agree. He had let her move to Suyuexuan at the prince's order. What if the prince came back and found that she had moved somewhere else and blamed him? How could he, an old man, bear it?
Steward Li said, "The courtyard next door has never been occupied, and the maids rarely clean it. It's probably very dirty, and it won't be tidied up soon. You can stay here for one night. You can move out tomorrow when it's cleaned up."
Xiaoxiao agreed obediently.
Pei Xiuhan didn't come back until the evening. When he returned to Su Yuexuan, he saw the light on in Xiaoxiao's room, and his eyes softened unconsciously.
Pei Xiuhan didn't go back to his room. Instead, he went to Xiaoxiao's room. As it was already late at night, he didn't go in directly. He reached out and knocked on the door and asked, "Are you going to bed?"
Xiaoxiao naturally didn't rest. She hadn't even had dinner yet and was waiting for him to come back. When she saw that he finally came back, she put down the book in her hand and walked towards him.
Xiaoxiao saw at a glance that he was wearing the clothes she made. The man was tall and straight, and he looked indescribably noble in the crimson robe.
His facial features were already handsome, and when he stood under the lamp, his features looked even more three-dimensional and charming. Xiaoxiao just thought he was extremely handsome, and her eyes were almost glued to him, and she was reluctant to tear them away.
Pei Xiuhan thought she was looking at the clothes and said, "It fits you well. Thank you for your hard work."
Xiaoxiao curled her lips and smiled, "It's fine as long as it's wearable. Brother came home so late."
Thinking of how she had complained about him being too busy before, Pei Xiuhan lied with his eyes open, "I'm a little late because I've been busy lately. I used to come back early. If you don't believe me, ask Yang Hao tomorrow."
Xiaoxiao didn't quite believe it, knowing that he definitely didn't have dinner, so she asked the maid to serve the meal. Only then did Pei Xiuhan realize that she had been waiting for him.
His brows knitted together, "Next time, eat first and don't wait for me."
Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "It didn't take long. I'm not hungry yet."
After they finished dinner together, Xiaoxiao mentioned that they planned to move next door the next day.
Pei Xiuhan frowned, "Why move next door? Isn't this place nice? What? Don't you want to live with Brother Pei?"
Xiaoxiao quickly shook her head, "No."
Her face was a little hot, and she whispered: "I am already a grown-up girl, it is not appropriate for us to live in the same yard.
Pei Xiuhan's eyes darkened. "What's wrong? Are you worried that your brother will ruin your reputation? Those who can get close to Wuya Hall and Su Yuexuan are all first-class maids. They know what can and cannot be said. Things in the mansion will not be spread out. There is nothing to be afraid of."
Ever since he learned about the words of the servant who had passed by Tao Hongtao, Pei Xiuhan had asked Yang Hao to specially screen the maids and servants in the mansion, and now those who were left were all flawless.
Xiaoxiao quickly shook her head. "I'm not afraid of the impact on me. My brother is already expanding Wuya Hall, and marrying a princess is only a matter of time. If she knew about this, she would definitely be unhappy."
Pei Xiuhan interrupted her directly, "There's nothing about her, you don't have to think too much."
Hearing this, Xiaoxiao's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
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