Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Pei Xingzhi really did not come back.

By daybreak, with Luyi attending to me, I had already finished breakfast.

Just as I was about to call someone over to clear the table,

Pei Xingzhi, still dressed in his court robes, lifted the curtain and walked in. Calling me by my nickname, he said brightly, “Leave some for me.”

I hurriedly told them to bring out a few more dishes.

He shook his head and, without ceremony, picked up the half bowl of white fungus soup I had left behind and finished it at an unhurried pace.

For a moment, the room fell silent.

Pei Xingzhi set the porcelain bowl down gently on the table and looked at me with clear, handsome eyes.

Only then did I remember. I gave a light cough and asked, “Is little sister Liangyin feeling any better?”

The faint smile at the corner of Pei Xingzhi’s lips suddenly stilled.

Without changing expression, his face turned cold as he said in a low voice, “I thought you’d ask me first why I didn’t come back last night.”

I smiled. “Your Majesty has Your Majesty’s reasons. There is nothing for this concubine to ask.”

That wasn’t true.

The old me definitely would have asked.

After all, I had only been eighteen or nineteen then, at the age when a girl cares most about the one she loves.

Every word and every action of his had meant so much to me.

Back then, Pei Xingzhi would always smile as he watched me get jealous.

Once he’d seen enough, he would pull me onto his lap in one swift motion, hold me in his arms, and patiently explain everything little by little.

Sometimes I would feel embarrassed too.

Blushing, I would ask him, “Um… will there ever come a day when you get tired of me?”

Pei Xingzhi would tap me on the head and reply with mock seriousness, “I’m already tired of you now.”

“But seeing how possessive you are of me makes me feel very secure.”

“If one day you stopped asking about me or caring about me, wouldn’t that mean you didn’t love me anymore?”

…

I had Luyi serve Pei Xingzhi a bowl of bird’s nest soup.

After setting it down, Luyi lingered for a few seconds before saying softly, “Her Highness actually waited all night for Your Majesty. She just wouldn’t say it.”

“Your Majesty can tell just by looking at the dark circles under Her Highness’s eyes. This servant urged Her Highness to rest, but she refused no matter what. She didn’t give up until dawn.”

I pretended to scold her. “What nonsense are you saying?”

As expected, Pei Xingzhi was moved. Reaching across the table, he took my hand. “Why hide it from me?”

I shook my head. “I simply did not want Your Majesty to worry.”

Since I had already given him away,

then at the very least, I should make myself look more generous about it. That way, I might still earn the image of being gentle, obedient, and sensible in his heart.

Pei Xingzhi frowned and suddenly said, “No.”

I froze for a moment, but still replied gently, “If this concubine has done something wrong, please enlighten me, Your Majesty.”

Yet he only looked at me with dark, unreadable eyes and said nothing.