Chapter 14
Chapter 14
As though salvation had finally arrived, Qiutong clutched her handkerchief and rushed toward the door to beg Chengde for help.
“Qiutong,” Xing Shuwei called, stopping her.
Qiutong halted and looked back at her.
“Tell him I am unwell today. Do not mention anything else,” Xing Shuwei said.
Though Qiutong did not understand, she still agreed with reddened eyes.
At the entrance to Qianchen Pavilion, Chengde heard her reply and asked in return, “Is Miss Xing truly not avoiding the Eldest Young Master?”
Aggrieved, Qiutong’s tears spilled over. “If a single word I say is false, may the heavens strike me down with five thunderbolts.
“If the Eldest Young Master does not believe me, he can come see for himself.
“My young lady is a guest lodging here, not a servant sold to the Duke’s estate.
“What? Must my young lady remain perfectly healthy every day of the year? Is she not even allowed to fall ill once?”
Qiutong wept so fiercely that Chengde did not know what to do.
He retreated two steps, turned, and left.
He did not dare be careless with anything concerning Miss Xing.
After returning to Qiansheng Pavilion, he repeated Qiutong’s rapid-fire tirade to Pei Xianjing word for word.
Thud. Pei Xianjing tossed the book in his hand onto the table. “She is ill?”
Chengde stammered, “From Qiutong’s tone, she should be ill.”
“Should be?” Pei Xianjing asked coldly.
His voice was like a whetted blade, enough to strike terror into anyone who heard it.
Chengde bent at the waist, his manner respectful. “Eldest Young Master, this subordinate was not being perfunctory.
“Qiutong is the only maid serving at Qianchen Pavilion. It was not appropriate for this subordinate to enter and disturb them.”
Pei Xianjing ordered, “Have the estate physician examine her.
“Whatever medicine she needs, use only the best.”
“Yes.” Chengde dared not hesitate and hurried away to handle it.
Only after the estate physician had finished his examination and the medicine had been decocted did Chengde bring him to Qiansheng Pavilion to report.
The estate physician stood respectfully before Pei Xianjing. “Miss Xing is gravely ill. Had treatment come any later, the illness might have spread to her internal organs, and then it would have been troublesome.”
In the candlelight, the hand with which Pei Xianjing held his book paused slightly-
He had still been angry that Xing Shuwei had helped choose his bedchamber maid. He had sent Chengde to summon her because he intended to hold her to account…
He had not expected her to be so severely ill!
If he had not happened to send Chengde over and learned of her illness, had she intended to endure it alone?
After a long silence, the usually laconic Pei Xianjing said, “Mm.”
Seeing that he had no further instructions, the estate physician ventured, “Eldest Young Master, then this humble one will take his leave?”
“Mm,” Pei Xianjing answered again.
After the physician withdrew, Pei Xianjing paced the room for nearly an hour. In the end, he could not restrain himself and opened the door.
“Eldest Young Master, you cannot go to Miss Xing’s quarters at this hour. Whatever the matter, order this humble one to handle it.”
With a thud, Chengde dropped to his knees before him. Lowering his voice, he tried to stop him. “Even if you will not consider yourself, you must consider Miss Xing. If anyone sees you visiting her now, I fear her situation in the estate will only worsen.”
Without so much as glancing at Chengde, Pei Xianjing strode toward Xing Shuwei’s residence.
Helpless, Chengde could only rise and follow.
…
Xing Shuwei was delirious with fever and asleep when Qiutong led Pei Xianjing inside.
Pei Xianjing strode to her bed and reached out to feel her forehead.
“Brother Jing.” She woke with a start and called to him softly.
Two patches of unnatural crimson colored her cheeks, and her gaze was somewhat unfocused. “Why are you here? It is so late. What if someone sees you?”
Pei Xianjing looked down at her. Instead of answering, he asked, “Have you taken your medicine? Do you feel any better?”
Xing Shuwei nodded. “I took the medicine. I feel much better.”
Meeting Pei Xianjing’s gaze, she explained without prompting, “Choosing someone to serve as your bedchamber maid today was not Weiwei’s intention. Lady Pei ordered Weiwei to choose her.”
Pei Xianjing said nothing. His gaze lingered on her face for a long while before he suddenly bent over her, his tall frame bringing an irresistible pressure with it.
Almost instinctively, she shrank deeper beneath the covers.
His arm came down beside her, circled her waist, and drew her toward him.
Their bodies pressed together in an instant.
His cool breath brushed Xing Shuwei’s cheek.
“You are ill, so I will not hold this against you. But remember this: if I truly need a bedchamber maid, I will choose you. It can only be you.”
At those words, Xing Shuwei’s brows knitted almost imperceptibly.
Pei Xianjing caught the flash of resistance across her face.
He suddenly gripped her chin.
Scorching heat spread over his fingertips.
She lowered her lashes, and mist swiftly gathered in her eyes-
Hah! A bedchamber maid!
How could he even bring himself to say it!
“What? I have not yet held you to account for choosing a bedchamber maid for me, yet you feel wronged?” he asked coldly.
For a fleeting instant, he felt that although she was clearly in the palm of his hand, he could never truly control her.
“Weiwei would not dare. Brother Jing will soon become the Prince Consort. Please put your future and the Pei family above everything else and return to rest early.
“At a time like this, no scandalous rumors can be allowed to spread.
“Brother Jing, please go back.”
Pei Xianjing tightened his fingers. “Are you truly in such a hurry to drive me away?
“Are you really worried about my future, or are you afraid I will interfere with your schemes?
“Weiwei, I have heard that coupling with someone while they are feverish feels rather different…”
As he spoke, his left hand moved down and slowly slipped beneath her clothes.
Xing Shuwei panicked. Large tears streamed down her face as she braced both arms against his descending body and pleaded,
“Brother Jing, if we couple now, I will pass my illness to you…”
He crushed her plea between his lips and teeth.
Every inch of her skin was hot, even her breath.
Xing Shuwei was terribly weak and had no strength to resist. She could only close her eyes and silently endure.
Fortunately, he was not truly so bestial.
After kissing her for a while, he rested his forehead against Xing Shuwei’s and said hoarsely,
“Sleep. I will sleep here tonight.”
With that, he actually lay down on his side beside her, looking as though he meant to sleep.
Xing Shuwei had just sighed in relief when he stopped, but at his words, her heart leaped into her throat again. She urged, “If Brother Jing stays here overnight and catches my illness, my sin will be grave. You should still…”
“Lie down.” His lips pressed against hers, blocking whatever she meant to say next.
This…
How could Xing Shuwei dare urge him again? Resigned, she sighed and closed her eyes in his arms.
Though she had taken medicine, her condition could not improve all at once.
After lying on her side in Pei Xianjing’s arms for about half an hour, her discomfort made her shift restlessly.
“What is it?” Pei Xianjing lowered his head to look at her.
“Nothing. Lying still is uncomfortable, so I cannot help moving.” Xing Shuwei’s voice was soft.
He stroked her head. “There is no need to endure it. Move if you wish.”
Pei Xianjing soon came to regret saying that.
Holding Xing Shuwei as she squirmed about in his arms, he could not resist bending down several times to capture her soft red lips, but each kiss remained only a fleeting taste.
Xing Shuwei had been right-it truly was difficult to endure.