Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Xing Shuwei lowered her eyes, hiding the sudden resistance within them. “Has the auspicious date already been chosen?”
“Mm.” Pei Xianjing applied the ointment carefully. “Six days from now is an exceptionally favorable day.
“I asked an official from the Imperial Observatory to select it. He said that a woman who marries that day will enjoy peace, success, and the fulfillment of her wishes for the rest of her life.”
How could anyone enjoy a lifetime of peace and fulfillment in this man-eating Duke’s estate?
Xing Shuwei suppressed her thoughts. “Then I must prepare properly.
“Tomorrow, I’ll visit the cloth shop and choose two bolts of fine fabric to make my wedding dress.”
“Your wedding dress was prepared long ago. Why would you need to make it yourself?” Pei Xianjing took her hand, raised it to his lips, and kissed the back.
“Tomorrow, I must leave to handle a difficult matter. I will certainly return within four days.
“After I leave, remain in Qiansheng Pavilion and go nowhere else.
“Then no one inside or outside the estate will be able to harm you in the slightest,” Pei Xianjing coaxed softly.
Xing Shuwei nodded. “All right.”
Pei Xianjing asked tenderly, “Will you keep me good company tonight?”
Xing Shuwei froze. Only after a moment did she understand what he meant.
Without hesitating, she raised her hands and began loosening her clothes.
Pei Xianjing had saved her many times. Other than this body, she had nothing with which to repay him.
Heaven must have taken pity on her, giving her four days to make her plans before she entered his household.
And he would be away from the estate for all four days.
After tonight, the sky would be high and the world vast. She hoped they would never meet again.
One garment after another slipped loose and gathered at her waist. She tried to stand and remove them completely, but he held her fast.
“So obedient today?” Pei Xianjing frowned. Looking at her graceful body, he suddenly found his desire fading.
What was wrong with him today?
Usually, a single coy complaint from her was enough to overwhelm him and make him pull her into his arms to cherish her thoroughly.
Yet today, when she was so forward, he instead…
Xing Shuwei hunched her shoulders, sensing his unusual reaction.
Afraid he would discover something and cancel tomorrow’s departure,
she became even more proactive. Cupping his sharply defined face in both hands, she closed her eyes and kissed him.
When passion overcame Pei Xianjing, he lost his reason.
It would be best if she exhausted him so thoroughly tonight that he could not think and left as usual the next morning.
Pei Xianjing cupped the back of her head and closed his eyes, kissing her deeply.
After all this time, she still had not learned how to kiss.
He parted his lips slightly and guided her little by little.
After a long, lingering exchange, he caught Xing Shuwei’s chin and separated them.
“Since it is so rare for you to want me this much, I’ll leave you hungry for a few days. On the night of our wedding, I will cherish you properly.”
Xing Shuwei truly had ignited his desire.
But she had suffered a terrible fright today and still bore injuries. He could not bring himself to torment her.
Once he entered the bed, it was difficult for him to stop.
Even entire nights never satisfied him. How could her body withstand that?
Besides, he had important business tomorrow and could not indulge himself now.
“I can hold you while we sleep.” Pei Xianjing lifted her in his arms and stood.
As he shifted his grip, the clothes gathered around Xing Shuwei’s waist slid completely away.
She cried out and pressed herself against his chest.
“Still shy?”
Pei Xianjing could not help laughing softly.
“How many times have we already faced each other with nothing concealed? When will you stop being shy before me?”
He did not know it was all an act.
She merely wanted to keep him from noticing anything unusual.
They lay on the bed, and Xing Shuwei hurriedly pulled over the brocade quilt to cover herself.
With her back to him, she nestled her whole body into his embrace.
Pei Xianjing had not removed his clothes, and their hardness made her uncomfortable. She tossed and turned in his arms for a long time.
Pei Xianjing stroked and kissed her, assuming she could not sleep because she had not been satisfied.
He coaxed her for a long time. Only after midnight did she finally fall asleep amid his kisses.
Pei Xianjing closed his eyes but could not fall asleep no matter what he tried.
His broad hand repeatedly caressed her body.
Had he known this would happen, he would not have spared her tonight.
* * *
At five in the morning, before the sky had brightened, Pei Xianjing quietly finished dressing in military attire.
Creak. The door opened softly.
“Eldest Young Master.” Gao Li stood at the door holding a copper washbasin.
Pei Xianjing gestured for her to speak outside.
Afraid of disturbing Xing Shuwei’s sleep, he had not even allowed many lanterns to be lit in the courtyard.
“She went to sleep late last night. Don’t wake her for breakfast. Let her sleep as long as she wants.
“If she has any errands, leave the estate and handle them for her.
“The day after tomorrow, Shuyan will return and surprise her.”
Pei Xianjing instructed Gao Li as he washed.
Gao Li repeatedly acknowledged him. “Rest assured, Eldest Young Master. This servant will take good care of Concubine Xing.”
Pei Xianjing tossed the towel into the copper basin. “She probably won’t like hearing others call her ‘concubine.’
“Address her as you did before. There aren’t so many rules in my courtyard.”
Gao Li was happy for them as well. “It isn’t that the Eldest Young Master has no rules. You simply make no rules for Miss Xing.”
Pei Xianjing paused.
Gao Li’s expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly admitted fault. “This servant spoke out of turn. Please punish me, Eldest Young Master.”
Pei Xianjing waved a hand. “What you said… seems correct.”
Bent on leaving early and returning early, Pei Xianjing led Chengde out through the darkness.
When Xing Shuwei woke, it was already ten in the morning.
Gao Li attended her as she washed. Not seeing Qiutong, Xing Shuwei asked, “Where is Qiutong?”
Gao Li replied, “The Fourth Young Master heard that you are to marry the Eldest Young Master and prepared a great deal of dowry for you.
“It is being moved into Qianchen Pavilion now, and Qiutong is sorting it.”
“I was thinking that we could remove the bamboo grove and tear down the courtyard wall. Then your dowry would not need to be moved from Qianchen Pavilion to Qiansheng Pavilion. Combining the two courtyards would be convenient.”
After washing, Xing Shuwei ate only a few pastries and said to Gao Li, “I don’t want to keep the dowry in the estate. I want to convert it into silver and deposit it in a bank.”
“What?” Gao Li did not understand.
Xing Shuwei said, “You once served as a senior maid in Lady Pei’s courtyard. You should know that I brought my family’s property into the Duke’s estate.
“Brother Jing will have a principal wife in the future. If my dowry is mixed with his property, there is no guarantee it will not be absorbed into the common household fund again.
“Yan’er will need silver when he marries as well.
“An elder sister is like a mother. I must plan for him.
“Besides, would Brother Jing ever stint on my food, clothes, or daily needs?”
Gao Li knew all this and had always thought Xing Shuwei terribly pitiable.
Fortunately, the Eldest Young Master still cherished her.
Remembering Pei Xianjing’s instruction to comply with Xing Shuwei in everything, Gao Li said, “We’ll do as you wish. I can handle it for you, so you won’t have to make the trip. Your health hasn’t fully recovered.”
Xing Shuwei shook her head. “Just let Fourth Brother and Qiutong handle it. Fourth Brother is a merchant, and I want to entrust him with purchasing profitable assets for me.”