Chapter 26
Chapter 26
“Brother Jing, Weiwei suffered a fright today. I fear I will not be able to serve you well.”
When Xing Shuwei finally had a chance to breathe, she spoke in a coquettish complaint.
Her voice was soft and delicate.
Pei Xianjing was tormented by desire. His voice was hoarse, and the strain of his restraint was audible.
“When we are in bed, when have I ever made you exert yourself?
“If anyone is doing the serving, don’t I serve you more often?”
“You always like lying down. Even when I ask you to sit up or lie on your stomach for a while, you refuse.”
As he spoke, images had already begun surfacing in his mind.
Xing Shuwei was uncomfortable from the pressure against her and struggled to get down.
Pei Xianjing kept his arms locked around her. In the end, he pestered her with kisses for a long while before releasing her.
“Pour me a cup of cold tea.” Pei Xianjing straightened his robes.
Xing Shuwei poured the tea and held it to his lips.
His warm lips involuntarily brushed Xing Shuwei’s fingers.
Xing Shuwei felt her entire body tense and hurriedly pushed the cup into his hand.
“Brother Jing does not know which day the wedding has been set for yet, does he?
“Lady Pei will likely want to discuss it with you in detail. You should hurry back to Qiansheng Pavilion.” Xing Shuwei tentatively urged him to leave.
Pei Xianjing’s expression stilled, and he tipped back his head to drain the cup.
The moment the subject arose, his desire vanished entirely.
Seeing a trace of gloom settle over his face, Xing Shuwei fell silent at the proper moment.
“It is still early. Eat dinner and rest well.
“When I finish my work, I will send someone to inform you. Then you may come to Qiansheng Pavilion.”
As Pei Xianjing spoke, he rose and left the room.
Xing Shuwei murmured assent and followed him to see him out.
Before him, she had no right to refuse.
“Miss.” After closing the courtyard gate, Qiutong came to her with a tense expression.
“Could the Eldest Young Master have realized that we plan to leave?”
Xing Shuwei shook her head. “I cannot be certain whether he has noticed.
“But he gave me permission to associate with Zheng Yan.”
“Then are we still going through with it?” Qiutong asked.
“Why wouldn’t we?” Xing Shuwei replied. “As long as there is even the slightest opportunity, we must do everything we can to try.”
Man proposes, Heaven disposes.
Besides, Pei Xianjing had recently been occupied with the case. If she did not hurry to act now, matters would become even more difficult once he had time to spare.
Xing Shuwei calculated inwardly: the Embroidered Uniform Guard answered directly to the Emperor, and Pei Xianjing was at odds with Shen Yanqi. If Shen Yanqi truly proved reliable, perhaps she could arrange for Yan’er to enter the Embroidered Uniform Guard through him.
Today had been too rushed. She still needed to find an opportunity for further contact with Shen Yanqi and assess him.
…
After returning to Qiansheng Pavilion, Pei Xianjing instructed Gao Li, “Go invite Third Uncle here.”
“Yes.” Gao Li answered and went to Biyu Court to fetch him.
The Third Master, Pei Congyuan, had only just returned from outside and had not even managed a sip of tea.
“Third Master, the Eldest Young Master requests your presence. Please go over at once.” Gao Li curtsied respectfully, but her words allowed no refusal.
Pei Congyuan rose and asked Gao Li as he walked out, “He never summons anyone to his court. Why is he in such a hurry now? Has something serious happened?”
Pei Congyuan recalled that Pei Xuanfei had represented the third branch at Princess Jin’an’s residence today, and an ominous premonition rose within him.
Surely that wicked daughter had not caused trouble for him again.
The Qizhou border defense case implicated many people. Whenever Pei Xianjing had any suspicion, he involved the Ministry of Justice.
Several high-ranking and powerful officials were already imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice’s jail.
Pei Congyuan served in the Ministry of Justice and had been placed in charge of the case. Neither the Court of Judicial Review nor the Censorate wished to wade into these muddy waters.
The attitude throughout the imperial court was perfectly clear: they wanted him, Pei Xianjing’s uncle, to persuade his nephew to stop before he went too far.
He had not even found an opportunity to raise the matter. Who had provoked this terrifying man now?
Gao Li merely said, “This maid does not know.”
Biyu Court was some distance from Qiansheng Pavilion, and they walked for quite a while before arriving.
“Xianjing.” Pei Congyuan strode into Qiansheng Pavilion, squeezed out an ingratiating smile, and asked with great courtesy, “Is there some urgent matter?”
“Please sit, Third Uncle.” Pei Xianjing indicated a chair beside him.
Pei Congyuan perched lightly on the edge of the chair, looking prepared to listen with full attention.
Pei Xianjing’s voice was low. “Today at Princess Jin’an’s residence, Xuanfei actually forced Weiwei to admit publicly that she and I were engaged in an illicit affair.
“Fortunately, Weiwei was clever and proved her innocence in time, so no suspicion arose.
“And fortunately, the Princess was magnanimous and did not pursue the Pei family’s crime of offending a superior.
“Third Uncle, you understand better than anyone that disaster issues from the mouth.
“If she keeps behaving so presumptuously, sooner or later she will implicate the entire Duke’s estate.
“When that day comes, will the Duke’s estate preserve itself, or share the rise and fall of Third Uncle’s family?”
His voice was light, yet every word landed upon Pei Congyuan’s heart with the weight of a thousand pounds.
Outsiders imagined that great families like theirs must be united within, sharing honor and disgrace.
In truth, when disaster arrived, they all sacrificed the rook to save the king.
The king of the Pei family was the first branch.
They could not do without the first branch, but the first branch could discard them at any time.
When one occupied a lower position, the only options were to satisfy others and swallow every grievance.
Pei Congyuan nodded slightly and spoke humbly to Pei Xianjing. “Rest assured, dear nephew.
“I will discipline that wicked daughter properly when I return!
“If she refuses correction, then her Eldest Aunt may decide upon a marriage for her and let her husband’s family teach her proper behavior.”
Pei Xianjing still replied only indifferently, “Third Uncle speaks too seriously.”
Pei Congyuan did not linger over courtesies and hurried away.
Upon returning to Biyu Court, he angrily summoned Lady Qian and Pei Xuanfei.
“Father.” Pei Xuanfei entered uneasily and called to him from a distance.
“Wicked daughter!” Pei Congyuan strode forward, swung his arm wide, and slapped Pei Xuanfei across the face.
Pei Xuanfei was knocked to the floor, her arm striking the doorframe.
Lady Qian was startled and hurried to help her daughter. “Why can’t we discuss this properly?
“Xuanxuan suffered a terrible grievance today, yet instead of showing concern, you strike her.
“Her face was already injured. Hitting her so hard-are you trying to disfigure her?”
Pei Xuanfei felt the corner of her mouth split, and the sweet, metallic taste of blood spread across her tongue.
“You are a fool as well,” Pei Congyuan cursed Lady Qian too.
“The fine daughter you raised spouted nonsense at Princess Jin’an’s residence. Not only did she offend her superiors, but she also damaged Xianjing’s reputation!
“She is trying to get our entire family killed!
“If you cannot teach her, then let her learn proper behavior before her Eldest Aunt.”
“You mother and daughter spend every day following Dowager Lady Pei, a woman from a petty household. That is why you understand neither the larger interests nor proper conduct.
“From today onward, neither of you is permitted to visit Mingshou Court.”
Pei Congyuan paused, then added, “Both of you will go learn proper behavior before your Eldest Aunt. You may crawl back only when Xianjing is pleased.”
Lady Qian refused. “She and I are sisters-in-law. She is not my elder. Why should I learn proper behavior from her?
“You and Eldest Brother were both born to the principal wife. Why should our entire family of three bow and scrape before them?
“I will not go serve Lady Gao as her maid, nor will I let Xuanxuan go.”
Smack! A slap landed across Lady Qian’s face.
Five finger marks instantly rose on her cheek.
“Someone come!” Pei Congyuan roared. “Escort both mother and daughter to Panlin Court!”