Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Xing Shuwei made herself ill from the rain.
At eight that evening, Gao Li came to Qianchen Pavilion on Pei Xianjing’s orders to summon her.
She stepped through the courtyard gate and saw not a single candle lit inside. Hurrying into the room, she found Qiutong crouched beside the bed.
Gao Li raised the lantern in her hand, illuminating Qiutong’s face. “Have you run out of candles? What happened? Why are you sitting in the dark?”
The lantern’s faint glow partially illuminated the Eight Immortals table. The dinner Gao Li had ordered delivered at five that afternoon remained untouched.
Qiutong wept silently, lips pressed together as she refused to say anything.
After looking at the mistress and maid, Gao Li suddenly realized something and reached to touch Xing Shuwei’s forehead.
Xing Shuwei turned her head away, but Gao Li’s fingertips still brushed scorching heat.
“You’re burning up. We must summon the estate physician at once. This cannot be delayed, Miss Xing,” Gao Li said anxiously.
“There’s no need.” Xing Shuwei spoke weakly. “Please tell the Eldest Young Master for me.
“I’m ill and fear passing the sickness to him.
“Once I recover somewhat, I will go to Qiansheng Pavilion and apologize in person.”
Tonight, she truly did not want to move.
She was not deliberately tormenting herself. Too many emotions in her heart had nowhere to go, leaving this as her only way to let them escape.
Four years of accumulated grievance, anxiety, and fear… Today, they collapsed like a mountain, threatening to crush her to death and bury her deep beneath the earth.
“Whatever you have to say, say it after you meet the Eldest Young Master.” Seeing that she refused both the estate physician and Qiansheng Pavilion, Gao Li reached down to help her up. “The Eldest Young Master told me to inform you that you must go to Qiansheng Pavilion today, Miss Xing.
“He seems to be in a poor mood. It would be best not to court misfortune. Do as he says and spare yourself suffering.”
“Once you reach Qiansheng Pavilion, the Eldest Young Master will naturally see that you’re ill and summon the estate physician for you. Seeing him face-to-face will settle matters better than any amount of talking.”
Xing Shuwei sat up and saw the difficulty on Gao Li’s face.
Pei Xianjing was not usually one to vent his anger on others. But on the occasional times when she provoked him, he would make an example of someone else as a warning to her.
Gao Li was a good person and treated her kindly. Xing Shuwei could not watch coldly as Gao Li suffered because of her.
“Very well.” Xing Shuwei suppressed her emotions, threw off the quilt, and rose.
Qiutong fastened her cloak.
Gao Li’s heart was in turmoil. Seeing Xing Shuwei barely able to stand, she abruptly changed course. “Perhaps you should wait here, Miss Xing. I’ll report to the Eldest Young Master that you’re ill.”
She feared that if Xing Shuwei did not go, the Eldest Young Master would be displeased. But she also feared he would be even more displeased to see Xing Shuwei drag her sick body through the rain to reach him.
“There’s no need.” Xing Shuwei bent down and lifted the lantern.
How could Gao Li dare let her carry it?
She hurriedly took the lantern from Xing Shuwei.
“This servant should carry the lantern.”
With that, she also took an umbrella and led Xing Shuwei toward Qiansheng Pavilion.
Gao Li tilted as much of the umbrella as possible toward her, leaving more than half of her own body exposed to the curtain of rain.
Xing Shuwei hurried along without telling Gao Li to shelter herself more.
She knew that only by arriving at Qiansheng Pavilion drenched could Gao Li properly account for herself.
Before long, they reached Qiansheng Pavilion.
From outside the door, Gao Li announced, “Eldest Young Master, Miss Xing is here.”
“Enter.” Pei Xianjing’s cold voice came from within.
Xing Shuwei told Gao Li, “Go rest early.”
Gao Li nodded and withdrew in fear.
Xing Shuwei pushed open the door and walked unevenly toward Pei Xianjing.
His tall figure sat in a chair, and he turned to look at her.
Lowering her eyes, Xing Shuwei swallowed dryly twice, stopped before him, and curtsied meekly. “Weiwei greets Brother Jing.”
Pei Xianjing frowned and looked her up and down. “Are you unwell?”
Her lips were pale, but an unnatural flush colored her cheeks.
Pei Xianjing reached out and took her hand, scorching heat flowing into his palm. “How have you fallen ill again?”
“Weiwei has always been frail,” Xing Shuwei answered softly.
“I’ll summon the estate physician at once.” Pei Xianjing rose as he spoke.
“Brother Jing needn’t do that. Weiwei’s life is a cheap one. Illness comes quickly and leaves quickly as well.” Xing Shuwei caught hold of him.
Pei Xianjing narrowed his eyes at her. “Surely you aren’t angry with me over Zhang Mingan and neglecting your own health?”
“I told Brother Jing long ago that Lord Zhang has nothing to do with me.
“Brother Jing simply refuses to believe me.
“From beginning to end, what Weiwei says has never mattered. What Brother Jing thinks is all that matters, isn’t it?”
She spoke to him calmly, without emotion.
There was none of her usual caution and none of her show of weakness or desire to please.
She stood before him like a wooden post. Even when he pulled her into his arms and forced her onto his lap, not a ripple crossed her face.
Pei Xianjing pressed a broad palm to her cheek. It was burning hot.
He called for Chengde, intending to send him for the estate physician.
Xing Shuwei said, “Is Brother Jing certain you want to expose our shameful relationship to the world?
“If the estate physician comes to Qiansheng Pavilion to treat me tonight, then by tomorrow, Lady Pei won’t be the only one who knows I secretly seduced you.”
“Who says you secretly seduced me?” Pei Xianjing’s brows knotted into a deep furrow.
“I do.” Xing Shuwei’s gaze was vacant. “If this becomes public, that is what I will say, no matter who asks.”
“Are you certain this isn’t your way of showing me your temper?” Pei Xianjing held her tightly enclosed in his arms.
He still believed Xing Shuwei was merely sulking at him over Zhang Mingan.
Xing Shuwei shook her head. “Weiwei wouldn’t dare.”
Pei Xianjing lifted her into his arms. “I’ll take you out of the estate to find a physician.”
Xing Shuwei suddenly smiled, but the smile was uglier than tears.
“All right. Whatever Brother Jing wishes,” she said.
It was as though her soul had been drained away, leaving her a marionette.
Pei Xianjing cradled her in both arms, yet did not take a single step for a long while.
Xing Shuwei tilted her head against Pei Xianjing’s shoulder, the hot breath from her lips slipping straight beneath his collar.
She did not say once that she felt unwell, but Pei Xianjing knew she was suffering badly.
Pei Xianjing stood there for a long time. In the end, he sighed and placed her on the bed.
He rose and brought a basin of cold water. After soaking a cloth, he wrung it out only lightly and laid it across her forehead.
She stared at him, blinking only after long intervals.
There was no emotion in Xing Shuwei’s eyes. They were empty.
For the first time, Pei Xianjing looked away from her gaze.
Yet he could feel that her eyes never left him.
“I granted them official posts and the right to attend the Emperor. They won’t make things difficult for you or spread the matter around.”
Commander Shen had always wanted to place Shen Yanqi at the Emperor’s side, but the Emperor had never agreed.
This time, Pei Xianjing petitioned the Emperor. Shen Yanqi was granted the right to attend the Emperor, allowing him to remain at the Emperor’s side at any time and enter or leave the imperial palace freely.
When the imperial succession changed, he would possess the advantage of being one step ahead of others.
The Shen family could not refuse such an opportunity, and neither could Shen Yanqi.
Zhang Mingan, meanwhile, had always wanted to go to Qizhou. Before reaching such a vital frontier post, he would need to gain experience in the Ministry of War.
Neither the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate nor Zhang Mingan could refuse the opportunity to gain experience in the Ministry of War.