Chapter 27
Chapter 27
As dusk deepened, Lady Qian and her daughter were shoved into Panlin Court.
After hearing the pageboy from Biyu Court explain the reason, Lady Pei waved him away.
She looked coldly at Lady Qian. “You hid away and enjoyed an easy life, allowing this disaster to happen. Are you satisfied now?”
Lady Qian remained unconvinced. “Xuanxuan is still young and insensible. Eldest Sister-in-law was there when it happened, so why didn’t you stop her?
“One might almost think Eldest Sister-in-law deliberately allowed Xuanxuan to ruin Xianjing’s reputation.”
Lady Qian was never easy to deal with. Angry and distressed for her daughter, her words now bristled with barbs.
Unexpectedly, her accusation struck directly at Lady Pei’s hidden intentions.
Lady Pei had neither intended nor dared to destroy Pei Xianjing’s marriage to Princess Jin’an, but neither did she wish to see him enjoy smooth sailing and lifelong success.
Thus, she had turned a blind eye and allowed Pei Xuanfei to spout outrageous nonsense before the Princess.
Although she had made a show of stopping her once or twice, she had not silenced her completely.
Otherwise, matters would never have escalated so far.
Lady Pei had hoped to use Pei Xuanfei’s mouth to create a rift between the Princess and Pei Xianjing. That would be an excellent outcome.
Then, after they married, Pei Xianjing’s life would not be so easy.
It would also vent some of the resentment she and her own son had accumulated.
Ideally, Pei Xianjing would spend the rest of his life kneeling and serving the Princess… Only that would repay all the grievances Lady Pei had swallowed over the years.
“Insolence!” Lady Pei used anger to conceal her guilt. “Go kneel in the courtyard for four hours.
“For the next half month, you will remain in my court and learn proper behavior.
“If you fail to learn, I will have Third Brother demote you from wife to concubine and marry Pei Xuanfei off as someone else’s concubine.”
Lady Qian was speechless.
Pei Xuanfei pleaded through her tears, “Eldest Aunt, Xuanxuan knows she was wrong.”
Lady Pei flung her off and ordered the maids to drag them outside.
The weather refused to cooperate. Wind rose at night, followed by rain.
Lady Qian and her daughter suffered together in the storm.
…
At a quarter past midnight, Chengde came to summon Xing Shuwei.
She left Qiutong at Qianchen Pavilion. “I fear I will not return tonight. Go to bed early on your own.”
“But Miss, you have not slept. Can your body bear it?” Qiutong asked with concern as she fastened Xing Shuwei’s cloak.
Xing Shuwei replied, “I will be fine.”
The rain was heavy, and bamboo leaves soaked her skirts as she passed through the grove.
A charcoal brazier burned in Pei Xianjing’s bedchamber. At the sudden change from cold to warmth, Xing Shuwei shivered.
Pei Xianjing closed the door and drew her down to sit beside the bed.
“You are so cold. Get into bed and warm yourself.” As he spoke, he began unfastening her cloak.
“I can do it myself,” Xing Shuwei said shyly.
Although they had seen each other naked several times, she still could not shed her inhibitions.
“What are you shy about?” Pei Xianjing pulled her hands away. “What part of you have I not seen?”
Xing Shuwei wished she could crawl into a hole.
“Weiwei must learn to grow accustomed to it. I enjoy looking,” he said.
The room was brightly lit, with many candles burning at different heights.
The curtains surrounding the bed had been tied up.
His slightly cool fingertips touched the smooth skin of her back.
Xing Shuwei hunched her shoulders. It felt as though a drop of icy dew had slid down her spine.
Then the sensation spread from her back through every limb and bone.
In a daze, she felt his arms encircle her from behind.
His chin rested on her shoulder with exquisite tenderness.
His cool lips rubbed against her earlobe.
She sat there as motionless as a block of wood.
He disliked it.
Mischievously, he bit her.
Pain and surprise made Xing Shuwei tense, then loosen.
Unconsciously, she leaned back against his burning, solid chest.
In the end, her raised hand failed to stop the hand gripping her chin.
Pei Xianjing forced her to turn her head and kissed her.
She was compelled to tip her head back, then farther still.
“Brother Jing,” Xing Shuwei called.
Her voice was delicate and helpless.
His burning hand moved like a snake, giving her no respite.
Huddled in his arms, she stammered, “Brother Jing, I… I am tired.”
Pei Xianjing stopped. “Are you tired, or do you not want this?”
Xing Shuwei wrapped her arms around his lean waist. “I am tired, so I do not especially want it.”
“Will Brother Jing hold Weiwei while she sleeps?”
To her surprise, Pei Xianjing let her lie down and pulled the quilt over them both.
Lying on his side, he held her in his arms. “Then rest properly.”
For appearance’s sake, Xing Shuwei rubbed her head against his chin. “Next time. Next time, Weiwei will let Brother Jing do whatever he wishes.”
Weariness filled her voice.
In the end, Pei Xianjing could not bear to pester her further. He held her motionless and slept.
She slept soundly, rolling about in Pei Xianjing’s arms and setting his body aflame.
Near dawn, he wrapped her in the quilt, took a cold bath, and entered the palace early in the morning.
When Xing Shuwei woke the next day, she ate breakfast as usual before returning to Qianchen Pavilion.
“Miss, are you all right?” Qiutong asked as she welcomed her inside.
Xing Shuwei blinked, then nodded. “The night passed peacefully.”
Qiutong could hardly believe it. “Has the Eldest Young Master suddenly changed his temperament, or has he returned to the gentle and refined gentleman he once was?”
Before the Eldest Young Master took Miss by force, he had indeed been an upright gentleman as pure as a fresh breeze beneath a bright moon.
“I also think something is wrong with him.” Xing Shuwei had not expected him to indulge her wishes last night.
In Pei Xianjing’s restraint, she sensed something she had never felt before.
She shook her head and dismissed the thought. That man was temperamental, and she believed she would never understand his mind in this lifetime.
“Qiutong, is Fourth Brother in the estate?” Xing Shuwei asked.
“This maid will go to Biyu Court and look,” Qiutong replied.
The moment she finished speaking, a knock sounded at the gate.
When they opened it, Pei Guofei stood outside, and Qiutong welcomed him in.
“Please sit, Fourth Brother.” Xing Shuwei poured him tea.
“Stop fussing and sit down. I have something to tell you,” Pei Guofei said.
Xing Shuwei put down the teapot. “What is it?”
“Ah!” Pei Guofei said. “It is nothing serious. The person I wanted to see has accepted the invitation.
“I need to confess something. I sent Miss Zheng a calling card in your name.
“So when we meet, I will need you to show yourself as well.
“My good sister, you will not blame me, will you? You will help me, won’t you?”
As he spoke, Pei Guofei drew two jade bracelets from inside his robes.
The jade was deep green and of superb translucency.
He said, “It would be improper for me to give Miss Zheng a gift alone. You and she may each take one.”
“Very well.” Xing Shuwei accepted them.
She recognized the jade bracelets. Her mother had prepared them as part of her dowry.
The Xing family’s countless assets had all entered the Duke’s estate.
Dowager Lady Pei must have casually given the bracelets to Lady Qian while currying favor with her.
When the Xing family’s property entered the Duke’s estate, Dowager Lady Pei had not allowed the common treasury to inventory it. Pei Guofei presumably did not know where the bracelets came from.
“When are we leaving? Where will we meet?” Xing Shuwei asked.
She did not care which Miss Zheng Pei Guofei wished to see.
She happened to need an opportunity to leave the estate as well.
Once outside, he could meet his sweetheart while she attended to her own affairs. That would suit them both perfectly.
“We leave now and go to the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate,” Pei Guofei said.
“The Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate?” Xing Shuwei frowned. “So the woman you fancy is the young lady related to the Marquis of Qingyuan’s household?”
Pei Guofei nodded.
Xing Shuwei was astonished. “When did you meet? We cannot go to the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate, can we? If the Eldest Young Master learns of it, I fear…”
“He knows. You need not be afraid. I will explain everything on the way.” Pei Guofei urged her to leave.