Chapter 40 Giving You a Title Pei Lang tightened his arms, lowered his head, and moved closer to her again…
Su Heng trembled uncontrollably, stammering as if he wanted to say something, but then he heard a "crack" and felt excruciating pain in his chin.
Pei Lang withdrew his hand with a hint of disgust, but only dislocated his jaw in front of everyone.
"Today I have truly seen something new. This family, relying on their ancestors' legacy, has squandered their wealth and forgotten their roots, showing no family values whatsoever."
"The entire Su family of sixty-four was escorted to the Dali Temple prison to await their fate, along with the illegitimate son from the estate."
"Ahh!"
Su Heng was still unwilling to accept being lifted up, and he roared that he was innocent. His eyes darted between Lin Zhi and Pei Lang, as if he had thought of something, but he could no longer speak.
The once bustling Su mansion is now in complete disarray, as if all the previous splendor was just a dream.
"Are you the matchmaker?"
After the Imperial Guards withdrew, Pei Lang did not rush to leave. He reached out and picked up the marriage certificate that had been thrown on the ground, carefully reading every word as if he wanted to engrave it deeply in his heart.
At the end, you can still vaguely see half of the character "林" that was not written.
The matchmaker had never witnessed such a powerful figure wielding life and death power. Terrified, her legs went weak and she knelt on the ground, pleading, "My lord, spare my life! I had no idea what kind of family the Su family was!"
Pei Lang stared at the object in his hand, finding it an eyesore no matter how he looked at it, and casually tossed it to the matchmaker: "Destroy it completely before you leave."
The matchmaker hurriedly picked up the marriage certificate, tore it to shreds with gritted teeth, and was then waved away to leave.
The Pei family's carriage was parked outside the Su residence. Lin Zhi could tell that her aunt was suppressing her anger, so she silently helped her into the carriage. When she tried to get in herself, her arm was grabbed from behind, and Pei Lang offered his forearm to her.
This action, however, did not escape Lin Shaowan's notice. Even without looking up, Lin Zhi could feel her aunt's anger, especially since she had not yet forgiven Pei Lang for lying to her!
She deliberately ignored his movements and tried to get into the carriage herself, but her mind was in turmoil and she accidentally stepped on the hem of her skirt. Just as she was about to fall, someone caught her steadily in their arms.
Lin Zhi's wounds beneath her clothes hadn't fully healed, but this embrace only intensified her pain. The person who saved her that night was clearly Pei Lang, and now she felt no shame whatsoever; instead, her anger surged even higher.
Lin Shaowan, who was holding up the carriage curtain, couldn't stand it anymore and told Lin Zhi to get in the carriage quickly.
Upon returning to the Pei residence, Lin Zhi noticed her aunt's expression and knew something was wrong. Despite her complaints, she couldn't help but lag behind Pei Lang and whisper a reminder.
"Don't say anything that will upset your aunt anymore, because she already resents you enough for your uncle's illness."
Out of the corner of her eye, Lin Zhi could see Pei Lang nod slightly. She looked away, but then felt her finger being gently hooked. She knew without a doubt who it was, but a feeling of grievance welled up inside her.
If Pei Lang had remained gentle, she wouldn't have resented him; if Pei Lang had remained cold-hearted, she wouldn't have had any expectations. But now, this aloofness made her feel as if her heart was being tormented by boiling oil on a raging fire.
Why is it that Pei Lang can remain unmoved and do whatever he wants, while she is the only one trapped in the same place?
Kneel down!
Lin Shaowan was so angry that her head was spinning. She reached out and braced herself on the table, pointing at the rows of ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall, her fingers trembling: "Pei Lang! You really are something else!"
"You deceive your family and bully your relatives; do you really think you're so great now?!"
Lin Zhi had never seen her aunt so angry, not even when she was ridiculed by the aristocratic families. She didn't know how to speak, so she just stood silently to the side, her heart pounding in her chest.
Pei Lang did not insist. He lifted his official robe and knelt down obediently, saying, "Mother is right. I should not abandon my family for the sake of the Emperor's orders."
"It is difficult to be both loyal and filial. The son should fulfill his filial duty and abandon his loyalty."
The attitude was one of admitting fault, but these words were tantamount to adding fuel to the fire.
As expected, Lin Shaowan's breathing became rapid, and she clutched her chest, glaring at Pei Lang: "Who told you to be unfaithful!"
"But you shouldn't have abandoned the Pei family and entered this game alone! You are loyal, you are a righteous man, but the entire Pei family is being used as a shield for you!"
“Your younger brother was a general who died in battle at the border, but he was previously the subject of malicious speculation and rumors. Your father was an upright and loyal minister, but now he is bedridden and unable to get up.”
"And then there's Azhi. She came all the way from afar to be with me, and I treat her like my own daughter! Yet she lived in fear and anxiety in the Pei family. She finally found a good marriage, but you ruined it at the last minute."
“I am not your biological mother, but I am still a member of the Pei family. I do not ask you to be filial to me. I only ask that you spare my relatives and family members. What have they done to deserve this?”
After the resounding question, there was a deathly silence. Lin Zhi dug her palms until they bled before she could stop trembling. She had thought her aunt only wanted to reason with her and appeal to her emotions, but she hadn't expected such a fierce accusation.
Pei Lang's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes darkened slightly. He was no longer indifferent and calmly stood up.
His dark purple official robe was completely wrinkle-free.
“Mother, you are too kind. Mingli was doing this to protect the country, and Father was overwhelmed with grief upon learning of His Majesty’s passing. Each and every one of these things is a pain in my heart.”
"But only today, regarding my cousin Azhi's marriage, I have a clear conscience."
Pei Lang's voice was as clear as the sound of jade striking the ground, calm and collected. He slowly walked up to Lin Zhi in front of Lin Shaowan. Lin Zhi stared at him, her face pale, her eyes filled with panic, not understanding what he was going to do.
Pei Lang reached out and grabbed Lin Zhi's wrist, leading her to Lin Shaowan: "If you hadn't been so eager to push Lin Zhi away, today's matter would have been just a trivial matter and wouldn't have involved her."
"You keep saying you're doing this for her own good, but now you've chosen a corrupt official with a concubine's son. Is this how you treat her and Pei Mingli the same?"
"Your son is not a man who can be both loyal and righteous, and neither can you."
Pei Lang's lips curled into a cold, provocative smile, but his grip on Lin Zhi's wrist was gentle yet firm.
"you!"
Lin Shaowan slammed her hand on the table, her eyes red with anger. Clutching her chest, she fainted from the shock. Lin Zhi quickly shook off his hand and stepped forward, shouting, "Someone come quick! Go and call a doctor!"
As the servants helped her aunt away, Lin Zhi wanted to follow, but Pei Lang stopped her: "Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"Your dear aunt isn't thinking about you at all."
Lin Zhi took a deep breath to calm herself before looking up at him, but her eyes were no longer affectionate, only cold.
"Lord Pei seems to have forgotten that everyone in the Pei family was a criminal before, and no one had any choice."
“My aunt has done her best to protect me from being hurt and ridiculed, and I am still grateful to her.”
"It's not something that can be stirred up by a few words from outsiders."
Lin Zhi forcefully shook off Pei Lang's hand and quickly left.
The fragrant breeze stirred by her light footsteps wafted over him. Pei Lang closed his eyes slightly, but when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with barely suppressed anger.
The death of the late emperor and the ensuing national mourning should have been a momentous occasion, but the events surrounding the new emperor's ascension to the throne overshadowed the mourning period. Within just half a month, discussions were dominated by the new emperor's policy changes.
Pei Lang is now the newly appointed Grand Secretary. He not only has an official residence bestowed by the emperor but also enjoys unparalleled prestige. The Pei family, which everyone used to avoid, is now so popular that people are flocking to him to ask for a meeting.
Those people were handled by the steward and Pei Lang, while Lin Zhi simply came to accompany Lin Shaowan as she recovered from her illness. Ever since Pei Lang invited the imperial physicians to examine her uncle's illness, Lin Zhi felt that her aunt's attitude had softened somewhat.
"Azhi, come here."
Lin Zhi looked up, put down the spices she was mixing, and stood up. "Does Aunt have any instructions?"
When Lin Zhi arrived at Lin Shaowan's side, she saw a number of portraits of men spread out on the table.
They varied in height, weight, and build, but the only thing they had in common was that they were all around the same age, resembling young people of similar age to her.
"Aunt, what is this...?"
Seeing her niece's bewildered look, Lin Shaowan smiled and pulled her to sit beside her: "Your aunt failed to properly oversee Su Heng's matter, but things are different now."
"These were all chosen by the matchmaker and then personally selected by my aunt. Ah Zhi, which one do you like?"
Lin Zhi stiffened, and although she was unwilling, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and watch.
"The Pei family is not what it used to be. Although it is still as glamorous as before, it has suffered a great loss of vitality."
"Moreover, the entire Pei family is now counting on Pei Lang. As long as your marriage is not settled, your aunt will be worried sick every night."
"Your aunt doesn't want to pressure you, but you should choose someone you like as soon as possible. Getting married sooner will put your mind at ease sooner."
As her gaze swept across the painting, Lin Zhi inexplicably thought of Pei Lang; none of them could compare to him...
As the thought suddenly occurred to her, Lin Zhi couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly. Why was she still thinking about him when things had already turned out like this?
Whether out of spite towards herself or towards Pei Lang, Lin Zhiguai complied and let Chun Tao and Xia Ying take all the paintings with her.
As night fell and the lamps were lit, Chun Tao looked at the paintings scattered all over the table and couldn't help but ask, "Didn't Miss promise Madam? Why don't you take a look?"
Despite the early autumn chill in her hands and feet, Lin Zhi wrapped herself in a soft blanket, leaned against the couch, and casually picked at some candied fruit, tossing it into her mouth. Her voice became sweet and sticky.
"There's no rush. It's okay if I don't check it for a day."
Chun Tao stared at her with a hint of indulgence. "Then shall I tidy it up for you first? Otherwise, it will be inconvenient for you to paint or write whenever you want."
Lin Zhi slowly shook her head: "No, if I put it away and my aunt asks me about it, I won't be able to answer. Just leave it there, and I'll check on it every now and then."
"Alright, then this servant will take her leave first. Miss, please be careful not to hurt your eyes."
With a soft creak, the door closed, and Lin Zhi finally closed the book, frowning slightly as if she couldn't help but look at herself.
These past few days have been my period again, and the abdominal pain and chills are worse than before. I'm afraid it's because of that bastard Lu Jue last time.
Lin Zhi couldn't help but reach out to cover her lower abdomen, but couldn't feel any warmth. Belatedly, she touched her face with her hand and realized that her fingers were also ice-cold.
"Sigh..." Her soft little face scrunched up like a bun, and she curled up her body to feel more comfortable.
It was only early autumn, and using a hot water bottle would still feel hot, but now she couldn't help but think of Pei Lang's hands, which were at just the right temperature.
Pei Lang was not only talented and handsome, but also incredibly skillful in the smallest details. Lin Zhi had once secretly observed him and noticed that the rough and unkempt fingers and hair on other people looked beautiful on Pei Lang.
The fingers are long and slender with well-proportioned flesh; when exerting force, the veins on the back of the hand are prominent, and the hand feels warm and full of blood and energy.
Thinking of this, Lin Zhi unconsciously wrapped the blanket around herself tighter and sighed softly.
Just as she was drowsy from the stomach pain, her hand suddenly felt empty. With her eyes half-closed, she touched her empty palm, then grabbed a candied fruit and popped it into her mouth to ease the pain: "Spring Peach? I'm still looking..."
But Chun Tao didn't speak for a long time, so Lin Zhi barely opened her eyes, which were almost glued shut. She saw Pei Lang, who had changed out of his official clothes, appear in the room!
How did you get in?!
Lin Zhi sat up straight and glared at him, but her brows furrowed involuntarily due to the pain in her lower abdomen.
Pei Lang originally wanted to tease her a bit, but he noticed that something was wrong with her. He stepped forward and pretended to lift the blanket to take a look, but Lin Zhi held him tightly and refused to let go.
"Pei Lang! You lecherous scoundrel!"
"You just barged in like this, aren't you afraid your aunt will find out!"
Pei Lang paused, staring at her with a half-smile, his dark eyes as unfathomable as a cold pool: "Your aunt has been invited to have tea and can't concern herself with such trivial matters."
"Stop fooling around, is your wound hurting again?"
That one sentence almost brought tears to Lin Zhi's eyes.
He knew he would be in pain, but why did he choose to disguise himself as a rescuer rather than see her that rainy night? Why did he leave her alone and helpless in the rain? Did Pei Lang feel any better seeing her suffer?
Lin Zhi was stubborn by nature, and she held back her tears, tightening her grip even more, refusing to back down an inch.
Pei Lang stared at her red and wet eyes, his heart tightening. He suddenly let go, unwilling to bully her anymore. Remembering something, he sighed silently and turned to pour her a cup of hot tea.
Seeing him turn and leave, Lin Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. But as soon as he reached the table, her heart jumped into her throat again. She rushed over without even putting on her shoes, trying to block Pei Lang's gaze.
But it was too late.
Pei Lang's cold gaze swept over the scattered scrolls on the table. Each one was a portrait of a man, with his birth date, personality, and preferences marked in the corners, all in great detail.
"Who gave you permission to see this?!"
Although Lin Zhi tried her best to block them, Pei Lang had already taken in all of these things. He grabbed her wrist to prevent her from moving and asked in a calm voice, "What are these things?"
Lin Zhi turned to put it away, but Pei Lang pulled her back in front of him: "What is it?"
A chill ran from the soles of her feet to her heart. Lin Zhi let him hold her arm tightly, but suddenly calmed down: "Cousin, don't you recognize me? It's a portrait, a portrait of a young talent from the capital."
"Didn't you see those used for choosing wives before, cousin? Why don't you recognize them when it's my turn to choose a husband?"
The light, even sweet voice completely enraged Pei Lang. He grabbed Lin Zhi's slender waist and pinned her against the table: "Lin Zhi, you're not allowed to talk to me like that."
"I'll let you go if you admit you're wrong."
"Heh..." Lin Zhi chuckled, revealing her neat, white teeth, but then suddenly bit down on Pei Lang's wrist, making her teeth ache. Pei Lang, however, remained unmoved.
It's like disciplining a disobedient cat, pinching its chin and bringing it to your face.
She brought her moist, upturned nose close to his, her tone alluring and tender, yet utterly humiliating: "Lin Zhi, are you in such a hurry?"
"Why didn't you say so earlier? You could have come to find me!"
Lin Zhi was furious and wanted to slap that handsome face that made her want to grind her teeth in hatred, but Pei Lang took the initiative and used one hand to gather her hands behind his back, then pulled her to sit on the table and kissed her deeply.
Looking down, he noticed that her feet were bare. Pei Lang even used his palm to separate her from the cold tabletop.
Pei Lang's kiss was urgent and fierce, sucking Lin Zhi's red lips until they went numb but she couldn't escape. There was still a faint trace of sweetness from the candied fruit between her lips and teeth, but the kiss was full of bitterness.
Pei Lang has never liked sweets since he was a child, always finding them cloying and sticky. But only now does he understand why some people are so fond of sweets; the taste is indeed not bad.
He stiffened, slowly backing away, only to see Lin Zhi's profile, which was turned away from him.
"...Don't cry."
Pei Lang recalled Xie Zheng's words from that time, and felt extremely agitated. He felt that she was truly reluctant to give up the marriage that he had intercepted and cut off. He gritted his teeth, cupped her cheeks, and solemnly asked, "Why do you insist on getting married?"
You are still young.
"I don't want to be left behind again."
Lin Zhi's lips were slightly swollen and red, yet her words were clear and resounding.
"I don't want to experience being abandoned by someone I care about again, just because I have no name or status? I don't want to be the one who is abandoned again!"
Lin Zhi's fingertips went numb and her voice trembled. Pain and heartache intertwined and bound her into a cocoon, protecting herself with a fragile yet closed shell.
Pei Lang's slightly astonished gaze made her feel completely lost, as if she were naked. She knew that their identities were worlds apart, yet she still indulged in wishful thinking.
Now that all those shady thoughts have been exposed and laid bare under the light of day, Lin Zhi suddenly felt as if she had returned to four years ago when she was bound hand and foot, gagged, and sent into a sedan chair.
The only difference was that she didn't have a choice back then.
It's her own choice now.
Pei Lang remained silent for a long time, and Lin Zhi felt that this was his answer.
His hands slid limply from his palms, and his whole body drooped and dimmed like a flower whose veins had been pulled out.
She easily pushed Pei Lang's chest away, her bare feet landing on the cold ground. "I only wish that in the future, you, Chief Minister Pei, will go on your path to success, and I will live my peaceful life."
"Don't mess with me again."
Her thick, jet-black hair, like a light mist, cascaded over her slender shoulders, making Pei Lang's heart ache.
She's lost weight again.
Lin Zhi felt exhausted, both physically and mentally.
Now she doesn't want to think about anything, she just wants to hide under the covers and shut herself off from everything that makes her obsessed and troubled, just like the pain of menstrual cramps that never seems to subside.
Just bear with it, it will pass.
"Just bear with it..."
Lin Zhi felt cold all over and wished there was a furnace nearby to jump into, even if it burned her to ashes.
"I will marry you."
As if her wish had come true, a tall, strong, warm body pressed against her from behind, pulling her completely into its embrace. Hearing those words made her feel as if she had truly jumped into a furnace, her head burning and spinning.
Seeing Lin Zhi's slightly parted red lips in surprise, Pei Lang tightened his arms, lowered his head, and leaned closer to her, repeating, "I will marry you."
"I'll give you the status you want."
"I will never abandon you again."
Unaware of the tears welling up, Lin Zhi didn't realize it until it soaked a patch of her clothes. Yet, it still felt unreal. She bit her lower lip, trying to regain her senses, but the tangible pain only made her sink deeper into despair.
"What did you say?"
Pei Langzhen gently turned his head and kissed the top of her head, then carried her to the bed and settled her in. He turned and strode towards the table, neatly gathering all the paintings together and throwing them down.
Through her teary eyes, Lin Zhi watched him unfold the paper and grind the ink. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he carried the scroll to her and knelt down on one knee, getting close to the edge of the bed.
"Choose this one."
"Choose this as your husband."
Lin Zhi looked at the painting of himself on the scroll. The brushwork was far superior to the paintings sent by the artist, but even so, it still couldn't compare to him in the slightest.
"But Aunt..."
Pei Lang smoothed her long hair and placed a light kiss on her forehead. "She will say yes."
"Sleep peacefully, I'll stay here and watch over you until you fall asleep."
Pei Lang put down the painting and placed his hand on her cold, aching lower abdomen to warm it until he heard her breathing become even. Only then did he carefully withdraw his hand.
They took all those unsightly paintings out and burned them before they were satisfied.
The firelight illuminated Pei Lang's deep and handsome features, making them appear strange and unpredictable.
"Are you sure that wedding dress is still in Lin Shaowan's hands?"
A gust of wind emerged from the shadows, saying, "Young master, I am certainly here."
"When Madam Lin entered the mansion, she wore the wedding dress prepared by the mansion, but the nanny in the mansion said that there was another dress that was even more exquisite than the one in the mansion."
"As for the maid you placed next to Madam Lin, she said there was a box she never let anyone touch, and it wasn't very big, but it looked like it contained a wedding dress."
The night wind swirled up the dried ashes, and Pei Lang squinted as he stared at them, swaying helplessly. "That's for the best."
"I've always enjoyed betting on people's hearts, and I've always been lucky."
"I want to see just how much Lin Shaowan will care about her only relative."
"How are the portraits coming along? Have you found anyone you like?"
Lin Shaowan led Lin Zhi to the backyard to admire the chrysanthemums, smiling as she said, "There's no need to be shy in front of your aunt. If you find someone you like, your aunt will host a banquet and invite the women in his family."
"This time we'll look carefully, and we definitely won't choose a family as filthy as the Su family."
Lin Zhi walked lightly, but her heart was heavy, and she didn't know how to start the conversation.
Lin Shaowan noticed her hesitation and laughed again: "Could it be that you've set your sights on several and are having trouble choosing?"
"That's not difficult. Your aunt will send out invitations for you and invite them all to come and have a look."
"aunt!"
Lin Zhi blushed and acted coquettishly, too embarrassed to listen.
The two, aunt and niece, were quite close when they bumped into Pei Lang, who was returning from court.
Lin Zhi quickly suppressed her smile, deliberately avoiding looking at him as if she were trying to hide something obvious. Lin Shaowan, on the other hand, stiffened her smile for a moment before smiling again and going to greet him.
"Ah Lang has come at just the right time."
“My cousin Azhi wants to find a husband, so as her older brother, you should come and take a look.”
"You did a good job last time, and didn't let A-Zhi suffer any losses."
Pei Lang remained calm, seemingly oblivious to the subtle barb in Lin Shaowan's words: "Mother, you flatter me. Since my cousin has asked me for a favor, I naturally cannot refuse."
“My mother trusts her son, so I will wait and choose a satisfactory ‘brother-in-law’ for myself.”
Lin Shaowan thought she had intimidated him, but in her smugness, she didn't notice the two exchanging glances.
"Cousin, can you tell me what kind of boots your brother-in-law would like?"
Lin Zhi deliberately teased Pei Lang with the half-finished boots, but was pulled back and pinned to his body.
“I think the pattern on your top today is quite nice; your brother-in-law will like it.”
He emphasized the words "brother-in-law" heavily, as if venting his dissatisfaction.
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