Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Pei Xianjing took the opportunity to sit on the stool beside the bed.
The estate physician crouched down and placed three fingers on his wrist. After frowning for a moment, he said, “Fortunately, the Eldest Young Master’s pulse is steady, and you show no signs of fever.
“You should still move to another courtyard, Eldest Young Master. Leave this place to the maids and this humble physician for now.”
Pei Xianjing withdrew his hand and turned toward Xing Shuwei, who lay on the bed.
She urged him as well, “Weiwei will be fine. You should go elsewhere and get some proper rest.”
Pei Xianjing’s expression was grave. “I am staying here.”
“Gao Li, take Physician Chu out for now.
“You need only prepare the medicine outside. I will keep watch here and call for someone if necessary.
“Protect yourselves as well, and avoid infection as much as possible.”
Pei Xianjing was considerate of the servants, which was why everyone throughout the Duke’s estate respected him.
The estate physician and Gao Li withdrew from the bedchamber. Pei Xianjing shut the windows tight, then seated himself on the edge of the bed again.
Xing Shuwei lay on her side and looked at him.
“Brother Jing, your health matters more than anything. You truly shouldn’t stay here with me,” she said weakly.
“My life or death is unimportant, but I cannot drag you down with me. Great Yue cannot do without you now.
“If something happens to you because of me, I will become a sinner condemned through the ages.”
These words came from the bottom of her heart.
Pei Xianjing raised a hand to take hers, but she refused to let him.
Pei Xianjing bent down until he was crouching beside her.
He said, “Listen carefully, Xing Shuwei. As long as I am here, neither you nor Shuyan will come to harm.
“I promise you that Princess Jin’an will not take Shuyan away.
“No one at Zhenxi Hall will bully him in the future either. I will have him enter the Ministry of War.
“If he does not like serving at court, then I will place him in the Five Armies Command and have him command forces in the capital.”
Xing Shuwei’s eyelids grew heavy. Her body felt hotter and hotter, as though flames were searing her.
She curled in on herself like a shrimp.
“Weiwei, did you hear what I said?” Pei Xianjing forcibly took her hand and asked in a soft voice.
Xing Shuwei gave a muddled hum of acknowledgment.
In truth, she had been forcing herself to hold on from the moment they entered the estate.
At Pei Xianjing’s promise, the heart that had hung suspended for days finally settled.
Tears slipped unconsciously from the corners of her eyes.
Her Yan’er, the younger brother she would risk her life to protect…
Pei Xianjing leaned over, his cool lips covering Xing Shuwei’s burning tears.
Her eyes flew open and met his gaze.
Pei Xianjing gently lifted her chin.
His lips moved lower until they settled over hers.
Xing Shuwei’s throat worked. Every swallow was filled with his taste.
His cool hand stroked her swanlike neck, bringing a comfort she had never experienced before.
Even as Pei Xianjing spoke, his lips did not leave hers. “Weiwei, I will stay right here with you.”
Xing Shuwei came somewhat to her senses, but she lacked the strength to push him away.
“Pei Xianjing, have you lost your mind? If I truly have the epidemic and infect you, what will you do?” At that moment, Xing Shuwei could not describe what she felt.
“I haven’t lost my mind. I’ve never been more clearheaded,” he said.
As soon as the words fell, he pressed his lips deeply to hers once more.
He was undoubtedly telling Xing Shuwei that he would remain with her in both life and death.
“Sleep properly for a while. Only with enough rest can your body recover faster,” he coaxed gently.
Under his watchful gaze, Xing Shuwei obediently closed her eyes.
At half past six that evening, every member of the Pei family gathered outside Qiansheng Pavilion.
Even the Second Master’s family, who rarely appeared, had come.
Pei Congxian’s expression was grim. He let out a low roar as he demanded of the crowd, “What exactly happened?”
“The court ordered all refugees with the epidemic quarantined forty li away. How could they suddenly appear in an inn outside the city?”
“Jing’er represents the Emperor and the Eleventh Prince. Creating a disaster like this is a slap in the Emperor’s face!”
Supported by Pei Xuanfei, Dowager Lady Pei wore an expression of forced concern. “Oh, Eldest Daughter-in-law, I don’t mean to criticize you, but…
“You let an outsider manage Jing’er’s promotion banquet, and now, when the officials’ female relatives are distributing porridge, you do not even appear in person.
“And now look at the trouble that has caused!
“You cannot spend every day revolving around Feng’er. Is Jing’er not precious to you too?”
Lady Pei also feared that something might happen to Pei Xianjing.
She wanted revenge against him, but only because she did not want everything to go his way. She had never wanted his life.
The glory of the entire Pei clan was largely thanks to him.
How witless would she have to be to disregard whether Pei Xianjing lived or died?
“What do you mean by that, Mother? Are you trying to sow discord between the Duke and me?
“Or are you trying to tell everyone that I hope Jing’er dies?
“If I were truly so blackhearted, why would I have done everything in my power to raise him? He is my own son too.”
Lady Pei and Dowager Lady Pei argued until both were flushed with anger.
Lady Qian, the Third Madam, joined Dowager Lady Pei’s side. “Eldest Sister-in-law speaks as though her conscience is clear. Whether her deeds are equally blameless is another question.”
Pei Xuanfei kept her head down, not daring to make a sound.
Princess Jin’an had said she would handle the aftermath, but several hours had passed, and Pei Xuanfei had no idea what she had done.
Judging from the manner of Eldest Uncle and the others, the situation had already become extremely serious.
Pei Congxian paced anxiously in place. Suddenly, he looked at the two young masters of the second branch. “Xianchen, Xianmo, this matter has already alarmed the Emperor. It must be investigated thoroughly.
“First, gather the refugees in the city for questioning.
“Then dispatch troops to the refugee camp forty li away immediately and investigate exactly who secretly let those people slip inside unnoticed.
“Once the culprit is found, hand them over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and have the Three Judicial Offices conduct a joint trial.
“We must give the Emperor an explanation within two days.”
“Yes,” Pei Xianchen and Pei Xianmo answered in unison.
When the two turned to investigate, they also called for Pei Congyuan, the Third Master, who served in the Ministry of Justice.
The scale of the response frightened Pei Xuanfei so badly that she could barely remain standing.
“Xuanfei!” Pei Congxian suddenly looked at her and called her name.
Pei Xuanfei flinched in terror and met his gaze in a panic.
“E-Eldest… Eldest Uncle,” she stammered.
“Weren’t you siblings both present at the time? How did Xing Shuwei and Jing’er end up together with refugees carrying the epidemic?
“Guofei, weren’t you the one who invited Xing Shuwei to distribute porridge? What happened?”
Pei Congxian stared at the two of them as he questioned them.
Lady Qian, who had been fanning the flames only moments ago, instantly sensed something was wrong.
She stepped half a pace forward, intending to shield her children behind her, but Pei Congxian’s fierce glare forced her back.
Anyone with eyes could tell that Pei Xianjing had gone to save Xing Shuwei.
His earlier decision to volunteer as Imperial Tutor to the Eleventh Prince had already drawn considerable criticism from the officials at court.
Now he had caused another great disturbance, personally slaughtering refugees with the epidemic and setting an inn ablaze.
Pei Congxian had been in the Grand Secretariat when he received the news. Merely recalling the Chief Grand Secretary’s poorly concealed smile filled him with fury.
Pei Congxian glanced at the tightly shut courtyard gates of Qiansheng Pavilion, with no idea how the two people inside were faring.