Chapter 95 The princess sent for a political marriage—he was so determined to distance himself from the situation…
With a sharp "smack," before Xia Ying could react, Lin Zhi raised her hand and slapped herself twice more across the face.
Her snow-white face was visibly red and swollen.
"Miss!" Xia Ying rushed over to stop her, shaking her head and hugging her hand tightly.
"Chuntao... Chuntao always thought you really died in that fire."
"I am deeply saddened, and I have even long wanted to follow you in death."
"What's more, the person who set the fire and tried to burn the young lady to death was despicable. Chun Tao died because of that person!"
Thinking of Chun Tao's tragic death, and how she was willing to risk her own life to save Mianmian, Lin Zhi slowly clenched her fists, gritting her teeth as she forced out the words: "Who? Who set the fire?"
Xia Ying frowned and thought carefully: "It was a banquet at the manor, and it seems to have been... the former young master of the Marquis's manor, named Lu Heng."
A somewhat blurry face of a young boy flashed through Lin Zhi's mind, but it seemed to become clearer and clearer.
"No wonder... they're from the Lu family, no wonder!"
She hated Lu Jue, and even more so Lu Heng; the entire Lu family was no good.
Lin Zhi put her arm around Xia Ying's shoulder, her eyes lowered and her face ashen: "Xia Ying, how are you doing these days?"
Did Pei Lang make things difficult for you?
Xia Ying sobbed and silently shook her head: "Ever since Miss... left, Young Master has become a completely different person. He's violent and unpredictable, and he always ignores us."
"After Chuntao passed away, he thought of fulfilling my wish to be with my husband at home, and even brought his family to the capital."
"This servant knows that you harbor resentment, Miss, but I don't want to see you sad. This servant feels that I shouldn't accept your kindness, young master, but now..."
Seeing Xia Ying blaming herself, Lin Zhi could no longer hold back her tears and hugged her tightly.
"Okay, Xia Ying, you did nothing wrong, it's all my fault."
“If I hadn’t just abandoned you and left, you and Mianmian wouldn’t have suffered so much.”
"Now you have your own husband and your own children. You are no longer a servant. You just need to live your own life well."
"The Pei family's affairs are no longer your concern. As long as you are well, that's all that matters."
Hearing this, Xia Ying became somewhat flustered and quickly grasped Lin Zhi's hand tightly: "What do you mean by that, Miss?"
"But you have to leave again?"
"But now... now the young master is the head of all the officials in the court, and even the emperor has to give him some face."
"Moreover, after this incident, the young master will certainly not let you leave easily."
Lin Zhi lowered her eyes, but after a while she looked up and smiled: "No, Mianmian is growing up day by day now, and I don't want to leave her alone in the Pei family."
"As for Pei Lang and me... I don't want to think about those things anymore. Watching Mianmian grow up is the most important thing."
Seeing that Xia Ying was still worried, Lin Zhi grabbed her without saying a word, gave her several land deeds and shop lots, and then saw her off.
Lin Zhi's face turned pale and bloodless as soon as Xia Ying left.
She slowly slid down and fell to the ground, covering her face and weeping.
Chuntao is gone just like that.
"Princess Chaoya has come from afar. We apologize for not being able to welcome you properly. Please come into the palace. Our Emperor has prepared a welcoming banquet for you."
The jingling of jewelry tinkled together, creating a pleasant sound. A pale honey-colored wrist reached out and lifted the carriage curtain, revealing bright, clear eyes that looked with curiosity at the scene so different from her hometown.
"This is the capital city where you live?"
Chao Ya jumped lightly off the carriage, the gold and jade ornaments on her body clashing and dazzling, but far less radiant than her eyes.
The older, more composed civil official frowned slightly, but still replied respectfully, "Indeed, the scenery in the capital is different from that in the north. Princess Chaoya is free to enjoy it to her heart's content."
But Chao Ya waved her hand dismissively: "I don't want to see. I just want to know who my husband is."
These shocking words greatly alarmed the civil officials, who couldn't help but frown. But Chao Ya tilted her head and asked, "What? You don't know either?"
"Then I'll go ask your emperor!"
Seeing that this foreign princess was about to offend the dragon's might with her light steps, everyone quickly stopped her!
"Princess, please forgive me. You need to freshen up before entering the palace to pay your respects."
Xiao Ting certainly wasn't after the princess's beauty; he was deeply suspicious and naturally wanted his men to thoroughly search Chao Ya before releasing her.
Although Chao Ya was somewhat unhappy, she didn't say anything and just followed the nanny over.
"Lord Pei!"
Pei Lang appeared here expressionlessly, which surprised the officials, but they were also relieved.
"The Northern Rong princess has arrived, but she seems to be unfamiliar with etiquette and may offend His Majesty."
"I would appreciate it if Lord Pei could mediate a little."
Pei Lang glanced at the dazzling array of tributes, but his mind was still on Lin Zhi, who was at home.
"Understood. I will go see His Majesty first. You all make proper arrangements for the princess's audience and make sure nothing goes wrong."
Upon hearing Pei Lang's request for an audience, Xiao Ting put down the memorial in his hand and narrowed his eyes slightly: "Lord Pei? Isn't he unwilling to attend court?"
"Why has he become so sensible since Princess Chaoya came?"
"Your Majesty is mistaken in what you said."
The Empress gracefully entered from the side hall and sat down beside Xiao Ting, placing a cup of ginseng tea in front of him.
"Even heroes have found it hard to resist the charms of a beautiful woman. In the past, Prime Minister Pei was always thinking about that concubine."
"But now that he is dead and his soul has vanished, Pei Lang doesn't even have a single person by his side who cares about him."
"Moreover, Princess Chaoya is incredibly beautiful and of noble status. I'm afraid Lord Pei saw her first and was tempted by her."
The Empress chuckled softly: "Even if he is as ethereal as a banished immortal, he is still just a mortal."
"How could he possibly disobey the Emperor's orders?"
"Your subject Pei Lang greets Your Majesty."
Looking at Pei Lang standing tall and elegant below the steps, Xiao Ting felt a strange sensation in his heart.
Even though she had promised him he wouldn't kneel, seeing him actually not kneel still made her feel a little awkward.
"Pei Qing, you may dispense with the formalities and take a seat."
"I heard you left Beijing a while ago. Now that you've come all this way back, why didn't you take a proper rest before coming here?"
Pei Lang's expression darkened slightly. He should have known long ago that Xiao Ting was not someone who trusted him and must have planted spies around him.
Since that's the case, even if Lin Zhi tries to hide it, he can't.
Moreover, he brought Lin Zhi back because he wanted her to be his rightful wife.
That way, she wouldn't be wronged in the slightest.
"Your Majesty..."
"Chaoya greets Your Majesty!"
A charming and lively female voice interrupted Pei Lang's act of getting up. Xiao Ting frowned almost imperceptibly, staring intently at the eunuch whose face was as white as paper.
Chao Ya stared at the magnificent hall with some curiosity, and her eyes lit up when she saw Pei Lang.
"What a handsome young man! You are so good-looking!"
Seeing Pei Lang's unpleasant expression, Xiao Ting clenched his fist and coughed lightly, his expression softening slightly: "Princess Chaoya, there's no need for such formalities. This is Grand Secretary Pei Lang. He came to greet you today upon learning of your arrival in the palace."
"Really! So he's my husband?"
Princess Chaoya's words were shocking and unconventional. Pei Lang's eyes trembled, and he suppressed his anger but smiled instead.
"Your Highness misunderstands. I, a man of noble birth, would not presume to presume upon such a high status."
"I am here today on official business to report to the palace. Please do not misunderstand, Your Highness."
His attempt to distance himself only piqued Chao Ya's interest, and she took two steps forward, circling around Pei Lang like a nimble snake.
"What do you mean by that? Do you think I, the princess, am not good enough for you?"
"Lord Pei, you certainly have a very arrogant tone!"
Pei Lang naturally wouldn't listen to her. He glanced at Chao Ya's unconvinced face and bowed to Xiao Ting.
"Since we have distinguished guests today, I will take my leave now."
As Pei Lang turned and walked away, the innocent smile on Chao Ya's face gradually faded.
Once the figure had completely disappeared, she sat down casually and said, "Your Majesty, your subject has more imperial authority than you do."
"However, I grew up on horseback, and the more spirited the horse, the more I like it."
Hearing Chao Ya's half-sarcastic words, Xiao Ting curled his lips into a forced smile: "Princess, you have quite the ambition."
"But Pei Lang is a man of deep cunning and aloofness. Do you really like someone like that?"
Chao Ya smiled and reached out to the person next to her, spitting the grape skins from her mouth onto the man's large hand. The two acted intimately, and it was clear at a glance that they had a very close relationship.
"This princess now prefers men who are aloof and indifferent; even just trying one would be nice."
"I heard that he was once depressed for a long time because of his deceased concubine. It seems that he is a sentimental person."
"The colder the demeanor, the warmer the heart; this princess is eagerly anticipating it."
Seeing Chao Ya's eager expression, Xiao Ting frowned slightly, feeling a little uncomfortable: "But the King of Beirong doesn't seem to think so. Princess, you should consider this more for your father's sake."
Chao Ya chuckled and stood up. "There's no need for Your Majesty to worry about that. This princess has her own way."
"This barbarian woman is truly arrogant beyond measure! If His Majesty didn't need to win over the Northern Rong right now, how could he allow her to run wild like this in the capital?"
The Empress's expression was somewhat unpleasant. She had always been gentle, humble, and dignified since childhood, and had never seen such a shameless woman!
Xiao Ting rested his chin on his hand, seemingly lost in thought. Pei Lang even considered giving up his position as Grand Secretary to go to Pingyi. Was he playing hard to get or was he lying low?
No matter what, he could not allow Pei Lang to cause trouble right under his nose.
"Where is Madam?"
Looking at the empty bedroom, Pei Lang's heart began to beat faster involuntarily, and his throat tightened.
"Don't worry, sir. Madam has gone to her room to keep the young lady company. However, after Miss Xia Ying came today, Madam has not left her bedroom."
Listening hurriedly to the butler's words, Pei Lang's anxiety became even more apparent: "Why is no one watching over us?"
"What did Xia Ying say?"
"Well... Madam doesn't look well, so we didn't dare to go forward..."
He pushed open the door with a burning heart. What Pei Lang feared most was that Lin Zhi would disappear from his sight again. He could never experience that heart-wrenching pain again.
Fortunately, the little dumpling on the tatami was sleeping comfortably, humming softly, while her little hands held Lin Zhi's hand tightly.
It seemed as if he was worried about Lin Zhi leaving even in his sleep.
Seeing Lin Zhi lying on the edge of the bed, resting her arms, Pei Lang's anxiety gradually subsided. Looking at the two figures, one big and one small, he felt that new shoots were sprouting in the barren places in his heart.
"grown ups......"
"You can go down now."
The butler immediately fell silent and carefully withdrew.
Lin Zhicai heard the door creak open and squinted at it, looking up in a daze. He could only see half of a sharp and handsome face, his jaw taut, as if he were a little nervous.
Sniffing the familiar, intimate scent around her nose, she squinted her eyes and snuggled closer to it.
Pei Lang froze in his arms, not daring to move an inch, afraid of disturbing this hard-won intimacy.
Lin Zhi's head had only rubbed against his chest a couple of times when she suddenly stopped and struggled to get down.
"Slap!" A slap landed so hard that Pei Lang almost stumbled half a step.
"You're so despicable! Don't touch me!"
Pei Lang tilted his head and remained motionless for a long time, only raising his hand to touch the red mark on the side of his face, but his attitude remained indifferent.
"Did I scare you? I see you're tired from taking care of Mianmian, so I wanted you to sleep a little longer."
Even though Lin Zhi was still angry, he made her uncomfortable with his attitude: "You don't have to put on a brave face and watch my expression."
"It is really unnecessary for a dignified prime minister to condescend to get entangled with a country bumpkin."
-----------------------
Author's Note: [Please] My besties, have mercy! I'm back! There'll be another chapter at the party~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
