Chapter - 51
By Tea Time Translations
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If there are any mistakes in translation, please feel free to comment! Please support us @TeaTime.
---
Night fell, and not long after, Pei You'an returned home.
The weather was hot, and Jiafu had taken a bath after returning from the Taoist temple in the evening. She was waiting for him, and upon his return, she greeted him and asked about dinner. He mentioned that he had some snacks with his colleagues at the palace around the Rooster hour and wasn't very hungry at the moment. Jiafu had already eaten a bowl of lotus seed soup earlier and wasn't hungry either. Knowing that he must have sweated a lot, she first helped him bathe and change clothes. Then, the couple had dinner together and visited the old lady and Mrs. Xin before returning. Just like the previous night, Jiafu followed him to the study.
In the courtyard, the jade hairpins (Hosta flowers) were in full bloom, and as night fell, the fragrance became even stronger, wafting into the study through the thick green gauze window.
Pei You'an sat behind the desk, attending to his own matters, while Jiafu stood in front of the bookshelf behind him, gently flipping through the books. They didn't face each other, and the smile that had been on her face gradually disappeared as she lost herself in thought. It wasn't until she heard Pei You'an ask her to fetch a book for him that she snapped out of it. "Oh," she responded and quickly put down the book in her hand, looking up to find the one he wanted.
"Third row from the top on the left, second book from the right," Pei You'an instructed without turning around.
Following his instructions, Jiafu quickly found the book and brought it to him.
Pei You'an took it, flipped through the pages, then looked up at her intently. "What's wrong with you? If you're tired from going out during the day, you don't have to stay here with me. Go to bed first, and I'll be back later."
Jiafu did indeed have something weighing on her mind, and it was no trivial matter.
That day in the palace, from the moment Jiafu saw Chi Hanzhen and Pei You'an talking by the palace road, she sensed a vague threat. Of course, the situation ended with her once again making a fool of herself, and Pei You'an, being magnanimous, chose to forgive her, as had happened many times between them in the past. This time, they even turned a potential awkwardness from their wedding night into a good outcome.
Grateful and relieved, Jiafu, upon reflection, felt ashamed of her impulsiveness and pettiness. In the past few days, thanks to Pei You'an's gentleness and their intimate moments in private, she had gradually shaken off the shadows of the first few days.
However, today's visit to the Taoist temple cast those dispelled shadows once again.
Her intuition told her that Chi Hanzhen likely harbored feelings for Pei You'an.
In truth, it was normal. Pei You'an had a mentor-student relationship with her grandfather, and she had visited the Pei family since childhood. Knowing each other from a young age and both being talented individuals, it wasn't surprising that she admired him. Jiafu also believed that Pei You'an was not someone who would behave recklessly.
But what she witnessed during the day still troubled her deeply.
This young woman had pride, talent, and wrote in a style reminiscent of Pei You'an's. He was like the bright moon, and she was the gentle breeze beneath the trees. Despite her family's downfall and her current situation living in the Taoist temple, Jiafu knew deep down that she always looked up to him, feeling grateful and cherished for his kindness towards her.
However, Chi Hanzhen seemed like someone who could stand on equal footing with him. She had even been willing to sacrifice her reputation to protect her innocence.
Indeed, Jiafu had also attempted to jump from a building, but compared to Chi Hanzhen's heroic act, her own experience was difficult to articulate. Besides feeling ashamed, all she could feel was a sense of disgrace.
In the eyes of Pei You'an, she must be talented and virtuous, worthy of admiration. Despite trying to rid herself of the lingering shadow, the encounter with Xiao Yintang on the way back to the city made her feel even more uneasy.
All along, she had a feeling that Xiao Yintang wouldn't easily let her off. It was also because of this that when she encountered Pei You'an, the lifeline that could resolve her dilemma, she held on tightly. Despite stumbling along the way, she finally married him and found stability.
As long as Pei You'an was there, even if he was just a Prince, Xiao Yintang wouldn't dare to harm her. Jiafu believed in this.
Before, when she thought about marrying Pei You'an, she had also considered that if he truly was fated to die young, as she had known from her past life, she would willingly accompany him to leave this world. On their wedding night, she had thought that if this man, who was so precious to her, were to leave, living alone would be dull. If she could spend a few years with him and live a stable life, she would be content.
Starting from their meeting in Wuding, through all the ups and downs until now, she and Pei You'an had gradually grown familiar with each other. She finally realized that his body wasn't as weak as she had imagined before.
He was slightly thin, and his physique wasn't as robust as a warrior's, but when he took off his clothes, his body was lean and strong, no different from a normal young man.
She found it hard to believe that such a Pei You'an would relapse into illness and die from uncontrollable bleeding several years later in a remote city outside the borders.
After returning home in the evening, while meditating in the bathtub with closed eyes, Jiafu suddenly remembered something.
In her past life, during the days when Xiao Yintang was on the verge of death, in her nightmares, she heard him say something related to Pei You'an.
He said, "You'an, You'an, is this the retribution you've brought upon me? Please, spare me! Don't blame me! If you must blame someone, blame Father! It's all his doing—"
Thinking of these words from his dream and recalling Pei You'an's cause of death in her past life, Jiafu couldn't help but shudder.
The true relationship between Xiao Yintang and Pei You'an was indeed not as amicable as it seemed on the surface; they had no contact in private. Especially in this life, because of her, Xiao Yintang must harbor even greater resentment towards Pei You'an, and Jiafu was aware of this.
But if her suspicion was true, what puzzled her was that in her past life, she had no involvement with these two men. Even though Xiao Yintang envied Pei You'an for stealing his limelight on ordinary days, at that time, Xiao Lie was still in power, and Pei You'an had voluntarily left the luxurious Purple Cloud and gone to the remote city of Suye for several years with no sign of returning to the capital. For Xiao Yintang, who was the Crown Prince, there was no reason to take the risk of being noticed by Xiao Lie and plot against him.
Jiafu was baffled, feeling that she might be overthinking things.
Now, hearing Pei You'an's question, the two peculiar glances Xiao Yintang had cast at her during their encounter on the road earlier in the day flashed before her eyes.
"Eldest Cousin..."
Facing the two scrutinizing eyes, Jiafu called out but stopped.
Pei You'an pondered for a moment, then set down the pen in his hand and gently took hers, pulling her to sit on his lap. His arm reached around her waist from behind, his movements gentle and natural.
Jiafu leaned against the arm that encircled her back, tilting her head slightly back to look up at him.
Pei You'an lowered his head slightly and asked, "I met Second Uncle just now, and he told me that you encountered the Crown Prince on your way back. Are you still afraid?"
Jiafu used to be afraid of Xiao Yintang, but she wasn't afraid anymore after being with Pei You'an. However, the feeling she had at this moment was more unsettling than the simple fear she had before.
"Eldest Cousin, you must be careful of the Crown Prince... He probably harbors a lot of resentment towards you..." She finally couldn't hold back and said it.
Pei You'an seemed somewhat surprised by her words and looked at her as if scrutinizing her, initially not responding.
Under his gaze, Jiafu gradually became uneasy and bit her lip. "Maybe I'm just overthinking... If I'm wrong, please don't be angry... I didn't mean to sow discord between you and the Crown Prince..."
Pei You'an smiled and tightened his arm around her, whispering softly, "Why would I be angry with you? I was just a little surprised by what you said..."
He paused for a moment.
"The Crown Prince has indeed harbored a desire to compete with me since before. I had no intention of making an enemy out of him, but in the court, many things are beyond our control. Even if it's not for you, there would still be grievances between us. But rest assured, as long as the Emperor is still in power, he won't openly challenge me. As for the future, even though it's unpredictable, I've married you, and I will do everything in my power to protect you."
His voice was steady, carrying a comforting strength. The clouds in Jiafu's heart gradually dissipated, and she softly called him "Eldest Cousin," raising her arms to encircle his waist and burying her face in his neck.
Pei You'an gently patted her back, as if consoling a frightened little girl, silently holding her like this for a moment. Then, he lifted her chin and turned her face towards him, his gaze falling on her lips. After a moment, he seemed lost in thought, slowly lowering his head towards her.
Jiafu knew he was about to kiss her.
Although she had already been intimate with him several times before, the anticipation still made her heart race, cheeks flushing lightly. Trembling slightly, she closed her eyes, feeling his warm breath approaching her face. Unable to resist, she puckered her lips, and they met his.
He paused slightly, stopping. This man was really naughty, even emitting a short chuckle afterward, the sound ringing clear in her ears.
But that wasn't all. While in his embrace, Jiafu even distinctly felt his shoulders and chest trembling slightly. Obviously, he was trying hard to suppress his laughter, secretly amused by her.
Jiafu's face immediately turned red, even her ears felt hot. Without waiting for him to kiss her, she opened her eyes, pushed him away, and stood up, annoyed. "I'm tired. I'm going back to my room to sleep. You take your time."
Turning around to leave, she lifted her foot, but then felt a hand grab her arm from behind, gently pulling her back into his embrace.
Jiafu's face was still flushed. Pei You'an's lips brushed against her ear as he whispered softly, "I really wasn't laughing at you just now..."
He stopped halfway through his sentence, and his chest trembled slightly again.
"Eldest Cousin!"
Jiafu was truly annoyed this time, struggling hard and refusing to sit on his lap again. Pei You'an wrapped his arms tightly around her slender waist, trying to soothe her, when footsteps approached from outside the study. A maid came in and said through the door, "Master, Miss Hanzhen from the White Crane Temple sent someone urgently requesting your presence. She said her younger brother is seriously ill again."
Jiafu stopped struggling and turned to look at Pei You'an.
Pei You'an was slightly taken aback, the smile disappearing from his face. He immediately released Jiafu and said, "I'll go and see. You go ahead and sleep."
Jiafu remembered the sickly child she had glanced at during the day, looking as frail as a sick kitten. How could she stop him from going? She nodded and followed Pei You'an back to the room, helping him change his clothes before hurriedly seeing him off as he left the courtyard.
.....
Pei You'an brought along an attendant and rode out of the southern city gate to the White Crane Temple. At the entrance, a disciple named Qingxin was waiting, and upon seeing Pei You'an, he came forward to greet him. Pei You'an brought a medicine box inside and inquired about the situation.
Qingxin said, "He was fine during the day, but he had another attack just now. He's unconscious and foaming at the mouth, it's really worrying..."
Pei You'an hurried to the Tai Su Pavilion. The door was open, and a young nun was anxiously waiting inside. When she saw Pei You'an, she quickly welcomed him in.
Pei You'an entered the child's room. The lights were on, and Qingxin was there. Upon hearing the commotion, Che Hanzhen rushed out, her eyes swollen with tears. Without waiting for her to speak, Pei You'an quickly approached the bed, lifted the covers, and saw the child's pale face with closed eyes, limbs twitching, and foam at the corners of his mouth. He quickly examined the child's eyelids, took his pulse, and then took out a needle from the medicine box. He instructed someone to hold the child's limbs steady and inserted several needles into his body and head acupoints. Gradually, the child's breathing became more stable, the twitching stopped, and his eyelids moved before slowly opening his eyes.
"Younger brother!"
Che Hanzhen cried tears of joy and rushed over, tightly holding the child's hand.
Pei You'an wrote a prescription, selected the herbs himself, and instructed the young nun to quickly boil them. When the medicine was ready, he helped the child sit up and drink it. After a while, the child slowly closed his eyes again and fell asleep.
Qingxin breathed a sigh of relief and escorted Pei You'an to the outer room. Pei You'an packed up his medicine box, and Che Hanzhen reminded the young nun to take good care of her brother before following Pei You'an out. Looking at Pei You'an, her eyes were red as she said, "I am truly ashamed. It's because of my younger brother that I have disturbed your privacy again. These past few days, my younger brother's condition seemed to be improving. Grandma Pei came to see him during the day, and in the evening, he got up. Following your previous instructions, I helped him take a few laps in the courtyard, but unexpectedly, he had another attack just now. I wanted to send someone to invite Physician Hu, but I was afraid he might be on duty in the palace tonight and not at home. If he wasn't there, it would delay urgent treatment..."
Pei You'an waved his hand to stop her and said, "It's alright. The urgency of your brother's illness cannot be delayed. I will stay a while longer to ensure there are no issues before leaving."
Che Hanzhen looked grateful, and Qingxin also breathed a sigh of relief. After Pei You'an finished treating the child, he exited the room, leaving them to wait outside. They quickly set up tables and chairs, brought fresh fruits, and lit incense to repel mosquitoes. They then waited attentively until Pei You'an left.
Pei You'an stood under the moonlight, his robes flowing like water, resembling a jade scholar. Che Hanzhen personally brought out some tea and walked out from the house, saying, "I understand that your excellency is newly married, and it is truly unavoidable for you to come here tonight. I am grateful for your trouble in coming from afar. I have nothing to offer in return. I only have an old piece of Longya Pu'er left from previous years, which I personally brewed just now. Please enjoy the tea, sir."
Pei You'an smiled slightly, saying it was no trouble, and picked up the teacup, taking a sip.
Che Hanzhen inquired about the illness. Pei You'an set down the teacup and said, "It's a complication of his original condition. Follow the prescription I left and give him the medicine on time. If my estimation is correct, he shouldn't have another episode."
Che Hanzhen fell silent for a moment and then said, "Sir, over these years, my family has declined, with no relatives to turn to, feeling rootless and adrift. We've endured humiliations and witnessed the fickleness of human nature. My heart was long dead, but upon meeting you, I realized there are still good people in this world, and my heart has gradually warmed. Please accept my bow."
After finishing her words, she performed a bow, displaying the customary etiquette of a woman, deeply bowing to Pei You'an. Under the moonlight, her slender figure resembled bamboo, evoking sympathy.
Pei You'an said, "Madam, please rise. Your grandfather was a man of pride and integrity, and we shared a teacher-student relationship. What I did today was just a minor effort, no need for you to worry."
He looked up at the moon, rising higher above the clouds, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Your brother should be fine now. With that said, I'll take my leave."
Che Hanzhen personally escorted him out, and despite Pei You'an's repeated refusals, she stopped and said, "Take care." After a pause, she added, "Since childhood, I've given up many worldly possessions, but I can't give up reading. I've finished reading the book you recommended, the 'Lunheng,' these past few days, but there are a few parts I don't understand. If you have the time, could you please enlighten me again?"
Since childhood, Che Hanzhen had a passion for reading, and Pei You'an had given her guidance during his visits to the Che family.
Pei You'an replied, "I don't have much insight. If you don't understand, you can seek explanations from commentaries and annotations. I remember they're available at the bookstore."
Che Hanzhen paused for a moment, then said, "I understand. Thank you for your guidance."
Pei You'an smiled faintly, nodded at her, bid her farewell, then turned and walked away quickly, his figure soon disappearing beneath the moonlight.
.....
After seeing Pei You'an off, Jiafu returned to her bedroom, undressed, and got into bed. However, she couldn't fall asleep.
Initially, she felt uneasy about the encounter with Xiao Yintang earlier in the day. Although she temporarily dispelled her worries, she couldn't help but feel empty when Pei You'an was once again called away by a female disciple. Despite knowing he had gone to treat a child, her heart still felt desolate. She wasn't in the mood to read, and sleep eluded her as she tossed and turned in bed. Feeling dizzy and congested, she checked the time and realized it was past midnight. She didn't know when Pei You'an would return, and if the child's condition worsened, he might not be able to come back for the night. Frustrated, and finding the room too stuffy and humid, she got up intending to open another window. However, she heard movement outside and realized Pei You'an had returned. She faintly heard him speaking with Tanxiang, seemingly asking if she was asleep. She let out a sigh of relief, swiftly got out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and was about to greet him when she changed her mind. She hurriedly dropped the curtain and climbed back into bed, haphazardly pulling the covers over her chest and abdomen, rolling onto her side facing inward, pretending to be asleep.
There was a soft sound of footsteps entering the room. Pei You'an went to the bathhouse first, then came out a while later. There was a faint rustle of clothes being removed, followed by the lifting of the curtain, and then someone lying down beside her.
Jiafu remained still, and Pei You'an didn't initially touch her. After a while, she felt a hand reach around her waist, slipping under her clothes and starting to tickle her waist gently.
Jiafu was particularly sensitive to tickling and tried to endure it. After being tickled a few times, she couldn't help but burst into laughter. Her body was then pulled closer by that hand, and Pei You'an hugged her, whispering in her ear, "Is this how you serve your husband?"
Jiafu opened her eyes and muttered, "I was asleep, but you woke me up with your tickling. You're the one who told me to sleep first, but now you're saying I'm at fault."
Pei You'an gazed at her delicate and charming face, then his eyes gradually fell on her cherry lips, saying suddenly, "Give me another smile."
Confused, Jiafu blinked her eyes, not understanding at first. After a moment, she remembered the scene from earlier that morning when Pei You'an dropped them off at Baihe Temple. He had asked her to smile like she did then.
Unable to refuse him, Jiafu suppressed her laughter, pursed her lips, and indeed smiled, a faint dimple appearing at the corner of her lips.
Pei You'an cupped her face, leaned in, and kissed the dimple that had caught his eye, then slowly moved his lips to hers, kissing her passionately.
Outside the curtain, the silver lamp flickered lightly, while inside, a fragrant scent filled the air. Jiafu's hair was disheveled, her body lying horizontally as she was pushed and rubbed by the man, sometimes gently, sometimes forcefully. One of her jade arms hung limply over the edge of the bed, the bracelet on her wrist swaying slightly as it hit the wooden frame, emitting a soft, rhythmic tapping sound.
"I have nothing with her; it was just a medical visit in the past. You were very understanding tonight, which is commendable. Let's sleep."
After everything was done, before going to sleep, Pei You'an held Jiafu close, casually stroked her head, leaned down, kissed her forehead, and softly spoke.
Chapter - 51
By Tea Time Translations
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If there are any mistakes in translation, please feel free to comment! Please support us @TeaTime.
---
Night fell, and not long after, Pei You'an returned home.
The weather was hot, and Jiafu had taken a bath after returning from the Taoist temple in the evening. She was waiting for him, and upon his return, she greeted him and asked about dinner. He mentioned that he had some snacks with his colleagues at the palace around the Rooster hour and wasn't very hungry at the moment. Jiafu had already eaten a bowl of lotus seed soup earlier and wasn't hungry either. Knowing that he must have sweated a lot, she first helped him bathe and change clothes. Then, the couple had dinner together and visited the old lady and Mrs. Xin before returning. Just like the previous night, Jiafu followed him to the study.
In the courtyard, the jade hairpins (Hosta flowers) were in full bloom, and as night fell, the fragrance became even stronger, wafting into the study through the thick green gauze window.
Pei You'an sat behind the desk, attending to his own matters, while Jiafu stood in front of the bookshelf behind him, gently flipping through the books. They didn't face each other, and the smile that had been on her face gradually disappeared as she lost herself in thought. It wasn't until she heard Pei You'an ask her to fetch a book for him that she snapped out of it. "Oh," she responded and quickly put down the book in her hand, looking up to find the one he wanted.
"Third row from the top on the left, second book from the right," Pei You'an instructed without turning around.
Following his instructions, Jiafu quickly found the book and brought it to him.
Pei You'an took it, flipped through the pages, then looked up at her intently. "What's wrong with you? If you're tired from going out during the day, you don't have to stay here with me. Go to bed first, and I'll be back later."
Jiafu did indeed have something weighing on her mind, and it was no trivial matter.
That day in the palace, from the moment Jiafu saw Chi Hanzhen and Pei You'an talking by the palace road, she sensed a vague threat. Of course, the situation ended with her once again making a fool of herself, and Pei You'an, being magnanimous, chose to forgive her, as had happened many times between them in the past. This time, they even turned a potential awkwardness from their wedding night into a good outcome.
Grateful and relieved, Jiafu, upon reflection, felt ashamed of her impulsiveness and pettiness. In the past few days, thanks to Pei You'an's gentleness and their intimate moments in private, she had gradually shaken off the shadows of the first few days.
However, today's visit to the Taoist temple cast those dispelled shadows once again.
Her intuition told her that Chi Hanzhen likely harbored feelings for Pei You'an.
In truth, it was normal. Pei You'an had a mentor-student relationship with her grandfather, and she had visited the Pei family since childhood. Knowing each other from a young age and both being talented individuals, it wasn't surprising that she admired him. Jiafu also believed that Pei You'an was not someone who would behave recklessly.
But what she witnessed during the day still troubled her deeply.
This young woman had pride, talent, and wrote in a style reminiscent of Pei You'an's. He was like the bright moon, and she was the gentle breeze beneath the trees. Despite her family's downfall and her current situation living in the Taoist temple, Jiafu knew deep down that she always looked up to him, feeling grateful and cherished for his kindness towards her.
However, Chi Hanzhen seemed like someone who could stand on equal footing with him. She had even been willing to sacrifice her reputation to protect her innocence.
Indeed, Jiafu had also attempted to jump from a building, but compared to Chi Hanzhen's heroic act, her own experience was difficult to articulate. Besides feeling ashamed, all she could feel was a sense of disgrace.
In the eyes of Pei You'an, she must be talented and virtuous, worthy of admiration. Despite trying to rid herself of the lingering shadow, the encounter with Xiao Yintang on the way back to the city made her feel even more uneasy.
All along, she had a feeling that Xiao Yintang wouldn't easily let her off. It was also because of this that when she encountered Pei You'an, the lifeline that could resolve her dilemma, she held on tightly. Despite stumbling along the way, she finally married him and found stability.
As long as Pei You'an was there, even if he was just a Prince, Xiao Yintang wouldn't dare to harm her. Jiafu believed in this.
Before, when she thought about marrying Pei You'an, she had also considered that if he truly was fated to die young, as she had known from her past life, she would willingly accompany him to leave this world. On their wedding night, she had thought that if this man, who was so precious to her, were to leave, living alone would be dull. If she could spend a few years with him and live a stable life, she would be content.
Starting from their meeting in Wuding, through all the ups and downs until now, she and Pei You'an had gradually grown familiar with each other. She finally realized that his body wasn't as weak as she had imagined before.
He was slightly thin, and his physique wasn't as robust as a warrior's, but when he took off his clothes, his body was lean and strong, no different from a normal young man.
She found it hard to believe that such a Pei You'an would relapse into illness and die from uncontrollable bleeding several years later in a remote city outside the borders.
After returning home in the evening, while meditating in the bathtub with closed eyes, Jiafu suddenly remembered something.
In her past life, during the days when Xiao Yintang was on the verge of death, in her nightmares, she heard him say something related to Pei You'an.
He said, "You'an, You'an, is this the retribution you've brought upon me? Please, spare me! Don't blame me! If you must blame someone, blame Father! It's all his doing—"
Thinking of these words from his dream and recalling Pei You'an's cause of death in her past life, Jiafu couldn't help but shudder.
The true relationship between Xiao Yintang and Pei You'an was indeed not as amicable as it seemed on the surface; they had no contact in private. Especially in this life, because of her, Xiao Yintang must harbor even greater resentment towards Pei You'an, and Jiafu was aware of this.
But if her suspicion was true, what puzzled her was that in her past life, she had no involvement with these two men. Even though Xiao Yintang envied Pei You'an for stealing his limelight on ordinary days, at that time, Xiao Lie was still in power, and Pei You'an had voluntarily left the luxurious Purple Cloud and gone to the remote city of Suye for several years with no sign of returning to the capital. For Xiao Yintang, who was the Crown Prince, there was no reason to take the risk of being noticed by Xiao Lie and plot against him.
Jiafu was baffled, feeling that she might be overthinking things.
Now, hearing Pei You'an's question, the two peculiar glances Xiao Yintang had cast at her during their encounter on the road earlier in the day flashed before her eyes.
"Eldest Cousin..."
Facing the two scrutinizing eyes, Jiafu called out but stopped.
Pei You'an pondered for a moment, then set down the pen in his hand and gently took hers, pulling her to sit on his lap. His arm reached around her waist from behind, his movements gentle and natural.
Jiafu leaned against the arm that encircled her back, tilting her head slightly back to look up at him.
Pei You'an lowered his head slightly and asked, "I met Second Uncle just now, and he told me that you encountered the Crown Prince on your way back. Are you still afraid?"
Jiafu used to be afraid of Xiao Yintang, but she wasn't afraid anymore after being with Pei You'an. However, the feeling she had at this moment was more unsettling than the simple fear she had before.
"Eldest Cousin, you must be careful of the Crown Prince... He probably harbors a lot of resentment towards you..." She finally couldn't hold back and said it.
Pei You'an seemed somewhat surprised by her words and looked at her as if scrutinizing her, initially not responding.
Under his gaze, Jiafu gradually became uneasy and bit her lip. "Maybe I'm just overthinking... If I'm wrong, please don't be angry... I didn't mean to sow discord between you and the Crown Prince..."
Pei You'an smiled and tightened his arm around her, whispering softly, "Why would I be angry with you? I was just a little surprised by what you said..."
He paused for a moment.
"The Crown Prince has indeed harbored a desire to compete with me since before. I had no intention of making an enemy out of him, but in the court, many things are beyond our control. Even if it's not for you, there would still be grievances between us. But rest assured, as long as the Emperor is still in power, he won't openly challenge me. As for the future, even though it's unpredictable, I've married you, and I will do everything in my power to protect you."
His voice was steady, carrying a comforting strength. The clouds in Jiafu's heart gradually dissipated, and she softly called him "Eldest Cousin," raising her arms to encircle his waist and burying her face in his neck.
Pei You'an gently patted her back, as if consoling a frightened little girl, silently holding her like this for a moment. Then, he lifted her chin and turned her face towards him, his gaze falling on her lips. After a moment, he seemed lost in thought, slowly lowering his head towards her.
Jiafu knew he was about to kiss her.
Although she had already been intimate with him several times before, the anticipation still made her heart race, cheeks flushing lightly. Trembling slightly, she closed her eyes, feeling his warm breath approaching her face. Unable to resist, she puckered her lips, and they met his.
He paused slightly, stopping. This man was really naughty, even emitting a short chuckle afterward, the sound ringing clear in her ears.
But that wasn't all. While in his embrace, Jiafu even distinctly felt his shoulders and chest trembling slightly. Obviously, he was trying hard to suppress his laughter, secretly amused by her.
Jiafu's face immediately turned red, even her ears felt hot. Without waiting for him to kiss her, she opened her eyes, pushed him away, and stood up, annoyed. "I'm tired. I'm going back to my room to sleep. You take your time."
Turning around to leave, she lifted her foot, but then felt a hand grab her arm from behind, gently pulling her back into his embrace.
Jiafu's face was still flushed. Pei You'an's lips brushed against her ear as he whispered softly, "I really wasn't laughing at you just now..."
He stopped halfway through his sentence, and his chest trembled slightly again.
"Eldest Cousin!"
Jiafu was truly annoyed this time, struggling hard and refusing to sit on his lap again. Pei You'an wrapped his arms tightly around her slender waist, trying to soothe her, when footsteps approached from outside the study. A maid came in and said through the door, "Master, Miss Hanzhen from the White Crane Temple sent someone urgently requesting your presence. She said her younger brother is seriously ill again."
Jiafu stopped struggling and turned to look at Pei You'an.
Pei You'an was slightly taken aback, the smile disappearing from his face. He immediately released Jiafu and said, "I'll go and see. You go ahead and sleep."
Jiafu remembered the sickly child she had glanced at during the day, looking as frail as a sick kitten. How could she stop him from going? She nodded and followed Pei You'an back to the room, helping him change his clothes before hurriedly seeing him off as he left the courtyard.
.....
Pei You'an brought along an attendant and rode out of the southern city gate to the White Crane Temple. At the entrance, a disciple named Qingxin was waiting, and upon seeing Pei You'an, he came forward to greet him. Pei You'an brought a medicine box inside and inquired about the situation.
Qingxin said, "He was fine during the day, but he had another attack just now. He's unconscious and foaming at the mouth, it's really worrying..."
Pei You'an hurried to the Tai Su Pavilion. The door was open, and a young nun was anxiously waiting inside. When she saw Pei You'an, she quickly welcomed him in.
Pei You'an entered the child's room. The lights were on, and Qingxin was there. Upon hearing the commotion, Che Hanzhen rushed out, her eyes swollen with tears. Without waiting for her to speak, Pei You'an quickly approached the bed, lifted the covers, and saw the child's pale face with closed eyes, limbs twitching, and foam at the corners of his mouth. He quickly examined the child's eyelids, took his pulse, and then took out a needle from the medicine box. He instructed someone to hold the child's limbs steady and inserted several needles into his body and head acupoints. Gradually, the child's breathing became more stable, the twitching stopped, and his eyelids moved before slowly opening his eyes.
"Younger brother!"
Che Hanzhen cried tears of joy and rushed over, tightly holding the child's hand.
Pei You'an wrote a prescription, selected the herbs himself, and instructed the young nun to quickly boil them. When the medicine was ready, he helped the child sit up and drink it. After a while, the child slowly closed his eyes again and fell asleep.
Qingxin breathed a sigh of relief and escorted Pei You'an to the outer room. Pei You'an packed up his medicine box, and Che Hanzhen reminded the young nun to take good care of her brother before following Pei You'an out. Looking at Pei You'an, her eyes were red as she said, "I am truly ashamed. It's because of my younger brother that I have disturbed your privacy again. These past few days, my younger brother's condition seemed to be improving. Grandma Pei came to see him during the day, and in the evening, he got up. Following your previous instructions, I helped him take a few laps in the courtyard, but unexpectedly, he had another attack just now. I wanted to send someone to invite Physician Hu, but I was afraid he might be on duty in the palace tonight and not at home. If he wasn't there, it would delay urgent treatment..."
Pei You'an waved his hand to stop her and said, "It's alright. The urgency of your brother's illness cannot be delayed. I will stay a while longer to ensure there are no issues before leaving."
Che Hanzhen looked grateful, and Qingxin also breathed a sigh of relief. After Pei You'an finished treating the child, he exited the room, leaving them to wait outside. They quickly set up tables and chairs, brought fresh fruits, and lit incense to repel mosquitoes. They then waited attentively until Pei You'an left.
Pei You'an stood under the moonlight, his robes flowing like water, resembling a jade scholar. Che Hanzhen personally brought out some tea and walked out from the house, saying, "I understand that your excellency is newly married, and it is truly unavoidable for you to come here tonight. I am grateful for your trouble in coming from afar. I have nothing to offer in return. I only have an old piece of Longya Pu'er left from previous years, which I personally brewed just now. Please enjoy the tea, sir."
Pei You'an smiled slightly, saying it was no trouble, and picked up the teacup, taking a sip.
Che Hanzhen inquired about the illness. Pei You'an set down the teacup and said, "It's a complication of his original condition. Follow the prescription I left and give him the medicine on time. If my estimation is correct, he shouldn't have another episode."
Che Hanzhen fell silent for a moment and then said, "Sir, over these years, my family has declined, with no relatives to turn to, feeling rootless and adrift. We've endured humiliations and witnessed the fickleness of human nature. My heart was long dead, but upon meeting you, I realized there are still good people in this world, and my heart has gradually warmed. Please accept my bow."
After finishing her words, she performed a bow, displaying the customary etiquette of a woman, deeply bowing to Pei You'an. Under the moonlight, her slender figure resembled bamboo, evoking sympathy.
Pei You'an said, "Madam, please rise. Your grandfather was a man of pride and integrity, and we shared a teacher-student relationship. What I did today was just a minor effort, no need for you to worry."
He looked up at the moon, rising higher above the clouds, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Your brother should be fine now. With that said, I'll take my leave."
Che Hanzhen personally escorted him out, and despite Pei You'an's repeated refusals, she stopped and said, "Take care." After a pause, she added, "Since childhood, I've given up many worldly possessions, but I can't give up reading. I've finished reading the book you recommended, the 'Lunheng,' these past few days, but there are a few parts I don't understand. If you have the time, could you please enlighten me again?"
Since childhood, Che Hanzhen had a passion for reading, and Pei You'an had given her guidance during his visits to the Che family.
Pei You'an replied, "I don't have much insight. If you don't understand, you can seek explanations from commentaries and annotations. I remember they're available at the bookstore."
Che Hanzhen paused for a moment, then said, "I understand. Thank you for your guidance."
Pei You'an smiled faintly, nodded at her, bid her farewell, then turned and walked away quickly, his figure soon disappearing beneath the moonlight.
.....
After seeing Pei You'an off, Jiafu returned to her bedroom, undressed, and got into bed. However, she couldn't fall asleep.
Initially, she felt uneasy about the encounter with Xiao Yintang earlier in the day. Although she temporarily dispelled her worries, she couldn't help but feel empty when Pei You'an was once again called away by a female disciple. Despite knowing he had gone to treat a child, her heart still felt desolate. She wasn't in the mood to read, and sleep eluded her as she tossed and turned in bed. Feeling dizzy and congested, she checked the time and realized it was past midnight. She didn't know when Pei You'an would return, and if the child's condition worsened, he might not be able to come back for the night. Frustrated, and finding the room too stuffy and humid, she got up intending to open another window. However, she heard movement outside and realized Pei You'an had returned. She faintly heard him speaking with Tanxiang, seemingly asking if she was asleep. She let out a sigh of relief, swiftly got out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and was about to greet him when she changed her mind. She hurriedly dropped the curtain and climbed back into bed, haphazardly pulling the covers over her chest and abdomen, rolling onto her side facing inward, pretending to be asleep.
There was a soft sound of footsteps entering the room. Pei You'an went to the bathhouse first, then came out a while later. There was a faint rustle of clothes being removed, followed by the lifting of the curtain, and then someone lying down beside her.
Jiafu remained still, and Pei You'an didn't initially touch her. After a while, she felt a hand reach around her waist, slipping under her clothes and starting to tickle her waist gently.
Jiafu was particularly sensitive to tickling and tried to endure it. After being tickled a few times, she couldn't help but burst into laughter. Her body was then pulled closer by that hand, and Pei You'an hugged her, whispering in her ear, "Is this how you serve your husband?"
Jiafu opened her eyes and muttered, "I was asleep, but you woke me up with your tickling. You're the one who told me to sleep first, but now you're saying I'm at fault."
Pei You'an gazed at her delicate and charming face, then his eyes gradually fell on her cherry lips, saying suddenly, "Give me another smile."
Confused, Jiafu blinked her eyes, not understanding at first. After a moment, she remembered the scene from earlier that morning when Pei You'an dropped them off at Baihe Temple. He had asked her to smile like she did then.
Unable to refuse him, Jiafu suppressed her laughter, pursed her lips, and indeed smiled, a faint dimple appearing at the corner of her lips.
Pei You'an cupped her face, leaned in, and kissed the dimple that had caught his eye, then slowly moved his lips to hers, kissing her passionately.
Outside the curtain, the silver lamp flickered lightly, while inside, a fragrant scent filled the air. Jiafu's hair was disheveled, her body lying horizontally as she was pushed and rubbed by the man, sometimes gently, sometimes forcefully. One of her jade arms hung limply over the edge of the bed, the bracelet on her wrist swaying slightly as it hit the wooden frame, emitting a soft, rhythmic tapping sound.
"I have nothing with her; it was just a medical visit in the past. You were very understanding tonight, which is commendable. Let's sleep."
After everything was done, before going to sleep, Pei You'an held Jiafu close, casually stroked her head, leaned down, kissed her forehead, and softly spoke.
