Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Pei Xianjing’s ink-black gaze moved away from Xing Shuwei.
He did not look at Shen Yanqi. Instead, he stared at the glaring gilt calling card.
“Eldest Young Master Pei…”
Shen Yanqi was about to speak when Pei Xianjing cut him off.
Looking at Xing Shuwei, he asked, “Everyone else has returned to the estate. Why are you still outside alone?
“What could have been so indispensable and urgent that you had to make the trip yourself?”
“I… Something was weighing on my mind, so I wanted to walk around. I happened to encounter Lord Shen.
“It is growing late. Eldest Young Master, we should return to the estate.”
Feeling guilty, Xing Shuwei’s voice carried a plea.
Most of the people coming and going here were noble scions. If a scene broke out and word spread, it would be disastrous.
“Eldest Young Master Pei, please do not blame Miss Xing. I was the one who overstepped…” Shen Yanqi began.
Pei Xianjing interrupted him again. “If you know you overstepped, you should restrain yourself and observe propriety.
“I nearly forgot that you serve in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
“The Embroidered Uniform Guard has always acted absurdly and without regard for rules.”
The smile finally faded from Shen Yanqi’s perpetually smiling eyes.
Yet his expression remained mild. “Those words are too severe. We are colleagues, and both carry out the Emperor’s commands.
“I know Eldest Young Master Pei is a forthright man, but you should think before you speak.”
“Excellent advice,” Pei Xianjing said with a cold laugh. “Then why did you not think before you acted?
“You and I are merely colleagues, yet even the affairs of my Pei family require your concern?”
“Hmm? Weiwei.” Pei Xianjing’s icy voice struck Xing Shuwei full in the face.
It felt like a sharp blade stabbing into her.
Xing Shuwei was anxious and afraid, her eyes reddening. She had no way to predict what Pei Xianjing might do.
Just as her body began to tremble uncontrollably, she retreated two steps.
Qiutong hurried forward to support her. “Miss.”
Knowing how serious the situation was, she cried, “The Eldest Young Lady refused to let Miss ride in the carriage and ordered her to walk back to the Duke’s estate.
“Miss dislikes going out. When has she ever visited Shenwu Avenue? She did not even know which direction led to the Duke’s estate.
“Of course we had no choice but to wander blindly through the streets!”
Qiutong did not mention Shen Yanqi.
Knowing she could not explain that matter clearly, she simply avoided the central issue and focused on the trivial one.
Pei Xianjing looked at Xing Shuwei. Her head was lowered, and large tears rolled down her face.
After a moment, he told Qiutong, “Bring your young lady and follow me.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Like a walking corpse, Xing Shuwei turned and followed him.
Qiutong secretly glanced at Shen Yanqi. In the end, she did not dare say a word and hurried after them.
Xing Shuwei walked slowly, leaving a considerable distance between herself and Pei Xianjing.
From amid the crowd, Shen Yanqi watched her slender back recede and frowned slightly.
It seemed her life in the Duke of Qi’s estate was truly difficult.
…
Pei Xianjing truly made Xing Shuwei walk all the way back to the Duke’s estate with him.
Once they arrived, Pei Xianjing did not return to Qiansheng Pavilion but went directly to Qianchen Pavilion.
Qiutong did not dare follow them inside and could only wait in the courtyard.
Pei Xianjing sat in a chair.
Xing Shuwei stood obediently before him. She had cried all her tears dry during the walk back.
“Why are you silent? Do you need Qiutong to speak for you?” Pei Xianjing’s voice was dark and cold.
Xing Shuwei shook her head and suppressed her emotions before saying, “She does not know the details.”
After gathering her thoughts, she lowered herself into a crouch before him and rested her overlapping hands on his knees.
“Brother Jing, everything I did was for your sake.”
Pei Xianjing lowered his eyes to her and continued listening patiently.
“I was afraid someone would use me to create a scandal around you and obstruct your official career.
“I know you are loyal to the Emperor and devoted to the realm, and the official work you handle gives others nothing to criticize.
“Their only option is to attack your private life.
“I do not know how the rumor began, but people say my handwriting came from you teaching me night after night.”
She shed two tears at just the right moment.
They landed on the back of his hand.
She recounted in detail what had happened at Princess Jin’an’s residence, naturally omitting the part involving Zhang Mingan.
Pei Xianjing listened carefully. “So you did all that to avoid arousing suspicion about the two of us?”
Xing Shuwei nodded. “I do not want to cause you trouble at such a critical moment.”
“The date of your marriage to the Princess has already been settled. If the Princess becomes suspicious, I fear she will make things difficult for you.
“Brother Jing, the prescription I wrote in imitation of your handwriting is still in the Princess’s hands.
“I must trouble Brother Jing to help me retrieve it. It is dangerous.”
“You are terribly bold.” Pei Xianjing supported her by the arms and pulled her to her feet.
The moment Xing Shuwei steadied herself, he spread his knees, pulled her down, and seated her on his right thigh.
“Were all of Weiwei’s schemes truly for my sake?” Pei Xianjing asked, staring at her.
“Naturally,” Xing Shuwei answered without hesitation.
“Since you are so devoted to my welfare…” Pei Xianjing said abruptly, “why don’t I ask Mother now and take you as my concubine? Then others will have no cause to gossip and make you suffer grievances you do not deserve.”
Xing Shuwei stiffened.
“No.” Her refusal was immediate.
“Why?” he asked calmly.
In the past, he would certainly have become angry already.
Had he noticed something?
When she did not answer, Pei Xianjing asked in a low voice, “Or is it that you do not wish to be my concubine?”
Xing Shuwei did not dare answer lightly.
But her silence had already answered for her.
Pei Xianjing suddenly raised a hand and gripped her chin.
Violence glinted in his eyes. “You have never wanted to remain at my side, have you?”
His words struck straight to the heart of her secret.
Of course. Pei Xianjing had spent years at the imperial court. How could he not know the marriage rules governing a hereditary Embroidered Uniform Guard family?
Xing Shuwei tried to shake her head, but she could not move her neck at all.
His grip was so powerful that it seemed he meant to crush her bones.
“Four years ago, you came before me and begged me to protect you and your younger brother.
“Did I fail to protect you both properly?
“Why would you develop such thoughts?
“Or were you scheming against me from beginning to end?
“Your younger brother wished to join the army, so I sent him to Zhenxi Hall for training.
“Now he needs only wait until he comes of age, and he can fill a post in the capital.
“Do you intend to make all his suffering over these years go to waste?
“Weiwei, you are becoming increasingly disobedient.
“I yielded to you in everything, only to spoil you into arrogance until you no longer know your place.
“Tell me. When did you begin setting your sights on the Shen family?
“He says one phrase, ‘free to choose our own spouses,’ and you truly believe you can become his wife?”
So he had heard everything Shen Yanqi said?
Then why had he pretended ignorance while listening to her explanation?
A wave of humiliation and anger surged through Xing Shuwei, turning her entire face crimson.
She clenched her teeth hard and forced herself to digest every emotion in silence.
“So, Brother Jing, you know everything, don’t you?”
“Whether at the Shen residence banquet or today, you know every detail from beginning to end?”
Pei Xianjing remained silent, and the two stared at one another.