Realizing the impropriety of his actions, Pei Yanli released Xiao Mingyue in a fluster.
Only after he regained his usual cold demeanor did Xiao Mingyue step down from the ice bed.
“Xiao Mingyue, you actually tricked me?” Pei Yanli’s voice trembled slightly. Fortunately, in the dim candlelight, his flushed, hot face was not clearly visible.
Xiao Mingyue took the new clothes from his hands—it was a crimson gauze dress, her favorite color. To think Pei Yanli even knew this; his hidden feelings ran deep indeed.
“When did I trick you? I truly died. It’s just that I am a thousand-year-old demon who happened to come back to life, that’s all,” Xiao Mingyue said nonchalantly. She actually began changing her clothes right in front of Pei Yanli, leaving him thoroughly shocked, embarrassed, and flustered.
“You!” Flashing his sleeves, Pei Yanli turned his back to her in huff, looking completely different from his usual solemn self.
Xiao Mingyue slipped into the dress in a few swift movements and made a move to leave, but Pei Yanli grabbed her by the wrist.
“Where are you going?” Perhaps because he had just cried, Pei Yanli’s eyes were glistening and wet like a pitiful puppy’s, making it hard for anyone to bear. Luckily, Xiao Mingyue wasn’t a normal woman.
“I am going to find my father, of course.”
“Your father is in the imperial prison. Going out like this is nothing short of walking into a trap.”
That was true. Xiao Mingyue felt she could make use of this powerful minister.
Just then, a servant ran in from outside, looking flustered. “My Lord, the Regent Prince has suddenly surrounded our manor with troops, claiming he has urgent matters to discuss.”
Pei Yanli’s gaze sharpened, showing not a trace of fear. He merely instructed calmly: “Invite him to sit in the main hall. I will be there shortly.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
Pei Yanli cast a cool glance at Xiao Mingyue. “I am afraid he is here for you.”
“Then Prime Minister Pei must protect me well, okay? Otherwise, I will tell everyone about you crying.” Xiao Mingyue smiled wickedly, suddenly leaning in close to Pei Yanli.
What Xiao Mingyue did not realize was that ever since her “resurrection,” her appearance had subtly transformed—or rather, her appearance remained, but her aura had shifted. To Pei Yanli, such a change was undoubtedly a fatal temptation. Just like right now—
The moment Xiao Mingyue drew near, an enchanting scent washed over him, laced with a faint fragrance that acted like an aphrodisiac, fanning the flames of desire within him.
“You are simply unreasonable.”
Xiao Mingyue curved her lips into a smile. “Am I not? I just never expected you to cry over my death. I am truly touched.”
“You are no longer the poor scholar of the past. A young, handsome man with such power and status as yours—it is truly hard not to love you.”
“What? You love me?” Pei Yanli heard something completely unbelievable, the icy expression on his face crumbling inch by inch.
“I didn’t say I love you. I said it is hard not to love you, meaning it is very easy to fall for you. However, I haven’t fallen for you just yet.”
Pei Yanli: “…”
His heart was pierced once again, and his expression chilled alongside it.
“Oh my, falling for Lord Pei—isn’t that just a matter of time? Look at your expression… What, do you crave to be loved by me so much?”
Pei Yanli’s heart began to beat wildly against his control once more. He felt just like a dog—the moment his master made a casual calling sound, he would start wagging his tail to curry favor. It was truly pathetic…
Seeing his shifting gazes, Xiao Mingyue wondered if she had pushed her teasing too far, so she hurriedly cut her losses.
“Ah, I was just joking! Lord Pei, please don’t take it to heart. Right now, disaster looms over my head, so please be magnanimous and help me this once,” Xiao Mingyue said seriously, cupping her hands in a respectful bow.
Unexpectedly, though Pei Yanli had appeared so grief-stricken over her earlier, now that she was asking for help, he pushed his luck: “What benefit is there for me to help you?”
Xiao Mingyue: “What do you want?”
“As you’ve seen, I do indeed… like you.”
“You want me?”
“Mhm.”
“My body, or my heart?”
“What use would I have for your body alone?”
“You want my heart? But while hands and feet can be controlled, the heart doesn’t listen to orders. If you want my heart, you’ll have to see whether my heart is willing to accept you.”
“Then what should I do?” All his life, Pei Yanli had adhered strictly to propriety and self-restraint. In this prosperous and dazzling Imperial Capital, someone of his former background was considered lowly. Aside from Xiao Mingyue, no one had ever been willing to associate with him. Naturally, he was unwilling to put on a fake smile for others either. Thus, for all these years, the only person he had ever formed a true connection with was Xiao Mingyue alone.
Xiao Mingyue was the only daughter of the Grand General who protected the state, possessing supreme and peerless noble status. Coupled with her nation-toppling beauty, she was far beyond the reach of ordinary men, so he could only gaze at her from afar in secret.
In his entire life, he had never done anything to win a girl’s favor. As for making someone fall in love with him, he knew even less about how to proceed.
Seeing that he was willing to help her, Xiao Mingyue breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Wei: [Host, you really have a way with gaslighting and manipulation. Impressive.]
Xiao Mingyue: What is gaslighting?
“For now, just hide me here in your manor. We can make other plans later.”
She didn’t know how Feng Buji had found out she was here. He truly thought of himself as the Emperor now, surrounding her with troops whenever he pleased. It seemed Xie Changsu had granted him far too much power, making him completely lawless.
“A golden house hiding a treasure…” Unconsciously, the phrase surfaced in Pei Yanli’s mind, and he murmured it aloud.
“What?” Caught in a momentary daze, Xiao Mingyue didn’t hear him clearly.
“Nothing. We will do as you say,” Pei Yanli composed his emotions and spoke, his tone unexpectedly turning somewhat cheerful.