He suppressed the fluctuations in his heart.
Forcing himself to remain calm, he replied, “I heard that Miss Jiang has been feeling unwell these past few days. Since I happened to be at the residence, I thought I would come see how Miss Jiang was recovering.”
Pei Yanchen turned his eyes toward Jiang Yingwan. “Feeling unwell?”
Jiang Yingwan awkwardly twitched the corners of her lips.
Her illness was a lie.
It was merely an excuse to avoid Pei Huaizhou.
But Pei Huaizhou was still there, so she could only follow along with the story. “…I was feeling a little unwell a few days ago, but I’ve recovered now.”
Pei Yanchen did not ask any further questions.
Nor did he look at the silent Pei Huaizhou beside them.
He only asked Jiang Yingwan:
“Are you finished talking? If you are, come with me to Green Bamboo Court.”
Jiang Yingwan’s eyes brightened slightly. “Is there a lead?”
Pei Yanchen gave a soft “Mm.”
She immediately nodded. “We’re finished. I can go now.”
Pei Huaizhou spoke up at once. “Then I won’t disturb Elder Brother and Miss Jiang while you discuss important matters. I’ll take my leave first.”
Pei Yanchen answered indifferently.
Pei Huaizhou clenched the hairpin in his sleeve and soon left Jadewater Pavilion.
Only after he had walked a long distance away
did he slowly come to a stop.
The sharp end of the hairpin dug forcefully into his palm, yet he seemed not to feel it.
The warmth and humility he had displayed before Pei Yanchen faded like a receding tide the moment he was out of others’ sight.
Darkness silently spread through his shadowed eyes.
The jealousy and resentment buried deep within them showed faint signs of rising to the surface.
He turned and looked back.
By chance, he saw Jiang Yingwan following Pei Yanchen to Green Bamboo Court, one before the other.
Pei Huaizhou’s fingers curled even more tightly.
His eyes were filled with gloom.
In Green Bamboo Court, Pei Yanchen handed the letter to Jiang Yingwan.
After she finished reading it, he said:
“One of the bandits has an unusual identity and seems to be connected to the imperial court. His true identity still needs to be investigated further.”
Pei Yanchen’s brows and eyes were cold and grim. As he lowered his eyes and poured tea, a trace of severity seeped from his sharp eyelids.
Yet when he spoke to Jiang Yingwan, he deliberately restrained some of his indifference.
Jiang Yingwan naturally understood how troublesome this matter was.
If that group of bandits had not actually been bandits but people from the imperial court, then the matter would be even more difficult to handle.
Three years ago…
The point in time three years ago was far too unusual.
It had happened to be when His Majesty had seized the throne from the other princes and ascended it.
Although she had only just reached marriageable age three years ago, she had heard of the brutality with which the several princes had fought over the throne.
Her father had been an Imperial Merchant.
The Jiang family had countless connections with the imperial court, which naturally made it easy for them to be dragged into the struggles between the various factions.
Setting down the letter, Jiang Yingwan suppressed her thoughts and thanked Pei Yanchen.
“Thank you, Lord Pei.”
Pei Yanchen took a sip of tea.
Remembering the scene of Pei Huaizhou giving her the hairpin earlier, he set down his teacup and let his gaze fall upon her.
With no preamble, he asked, “Has the Second Young Master been coming to see you often these past few days?”
He changed the subject too quickly.
Jiang Yingwan did not react for a moment.
When she came back to herself, she said, “I happened to run into him several times a few days ago when I went to speak with Old Madam Pei. I haven’t seen him again in the past two days.”
That was the truth.
She had claimed to be ill and stayed indoors for the past two days. Pei Huaizhou had only come to Jadewater Pavilion to see her today—and had happened to be caught by him.
In the side courtyard,
the first thing Concubine Zhao asked after Pei Huaizhou arrived was:
“How are things going with that girl?”
Pei Huaizhou’s eyes were cold and dark. “Not very smoothly.”
Jiang Yingwan was different from the other women he knew.
He had originally thought that, as an impoverished orphan who had traveled all the way from Yecheng to the capital, unfamiliar with both the people and the place, she would be easy to approach.
But after repeatedly trying to get close to her over the past few days, he discovered that this girl, who looked extraordinarily meek and gentle, had grown more guarded against him with each passing day.
The image of her following Pei Yanchen to Green Bamboo Court, one before the other, flashed before his eyes again. The gloom in Pei Huaizhou’s eyes deepened.
As someone with experience, Concubine Zhao could already hear the problem from those few words.
From an inconspicuous box tucked inside her dressing table, she took out an incense pellet and handed it to Pei Huaizhou.
Looking at the pitch-black object, Pei Huaizhou grew suspicious. “What is this?”
Concubine Zhao sat across from him and answered without changing expression:
“Aphrodisiac incense.”
Pei Huaizhou’s hand paused.
He looked toward his mother.
Madam Zhao pointed at the object in his hand, her tone extremely cold. “This thing is exceptionally potent, and it leaves no trace afterward. It’s very convenient to use.”
“Since that girl refuses to cooperate, don’t blame us for using other methods.”
She was merely an orphan girl. No matter how much she owed them for saving her life, once she lost her chastity, she would have no choice but to marry him.
Madam Zhao lifted her teacup and took a drink.
When she raised her eyes, a trace of viciousness passed through her pupils.
She instructed Pei Huaizhou, “Avoid being seen when you use it. Also, I hear that Pei Yanchen returned to the residence today. Be careful and try not to run into him, lest you ruin everything.”
In this residence, the only person Madam Zhao truly feared was the legitimate eldest son, Pei Yanchen.
Although the Pei Residence was large, there were no longer many true masters of the household.
The second branch had long since separated from the family and established its own residence.
At present, the only legitimate masters of this estate were Old Madam Pei, Madam Chen, and that legitimate eldest son, Pei Yanchen.
Pei Yanchen appeared mild and amiable in his dealings with others, but in truth, his temperament was exceptionally cold.
In the past, Madam Zhao had not devoted much effort to this legitimate son of the main branch.
Most of her attention had been focused on Old Madam Pei and her husband, Pei Zesheng, whom she had once gone ten days or even half a month without seeing.
Then, three years ago, Pei Zesheng died, coinciding with the princes’ fierce struggle for the throne. At that time, the Pei Residence had also fallen into complete chaos.
Madam Zhao had thought that, with Pei Zesheng dead and no longer able to favor Madam Chen, she and Madam Chen could finally compete properly and determine who was superior.
She had never expected that, when the entire Pei Residence had descended into disorder, Pei Yanchen would swiftly hold up the whole Pei family.
He had handled Pei Zesheng’s funeral while using iron-fisted methods to deal with those harboring disloyal intentions and rapidly seize power. Then, during the final stage of the princes’ struggle for the throne, he had personally eliminated the traitors for the present emperor, forged ties with important court officials, and eradicated the forces supporting the other two princes, helping His Majesty ascend the throne in a single stroke.
From beginning to end, all of this had taken less than half a year.
It was during that half-year that Madam Zhao truly realized just how ruthless and deep-minded this legitimate eldest son, who had attracted so much attention and in whom Old Madam Pei had placed such high hopes, truly was.
For a young man of his age to control more than half the power at court with ease and become a confidant of the emperor who had successfully won the succession—his schemes and temperament were far beyond those of ordinary people.
If Pei Huaizhou went up against him, he would definitely gain no advantage.
Thinking of this, Madam Zhao forcibly concealed her solemn expression and again warned Pei Huaizhou:
“Remember this. Regardless of whether Pei Yanchen wants to accept this marriage contract, as long as the debt of gratitude from back then remains, Pei Yanchen will show Jiang Yingwan a little more consideration.”
“When you make your move, you must choose a time when he is not at the residence.”
Pei Huaizhou looked at the aphrodisiac incense pellet in his hand and slowly nodded. “Your son understands.”
Late at night,
the courtyards of the residence were quiet and deep.
Only the octagonal glazed lanterns beneath the carved railings and covered walkways swayed, scattering their light.
After finishing his official duties, Pei Yanchen left the study.
He pushed open the door and stood beneath the glazed lanterns in the corridor, gazing at the desolate night for a long while before turning back to retire to his bedchamber.
Once he lay on the bed and closed his eyes, that strange dream that had haunted him day after day soon wormed its way into his mind once more.
At the beginning of the dream, he saw that seemingly obedient woman—the one who was constantly trying to flee his side—rush into the study.
In the past, no matter how desperately she wanted to leave, whenever she was before him, she would always put on an act.
Pretending to be obedient on the surface.
Pretending to possess that false gentleness.
But this time, she was no longer even willing to pretend.
She forcefully pushed open the door, hurried to the cabinet where he habitually kept important documents and letters, and pulled out the marriage contract he had placed at the very bottom.
Without even looking at it, she tore it to pieces.
Her movements were filled with vented emotion.
The fragments of gilt-edged paper fell to the floor with a rustle, like snowflakes dyed red with blood.
They were clearly as light as could be.
They did not possess even the slightest weight.
Yet he felt as though something had slammed violently into his heart.
What followed was an intense, uncontrolled cold fury,
wrapped in a heavy, muffled pain.
His gaze shifted downward inch by inch, fixing on the fragments of the torn marriage contract. His palm clenched tightly, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.
The roaring fury seemed ready to break through its restraints.
He heard his own voice, cold as frost.
Each word emerged distinctly: “Piece it back together.”
The woman standing beside the writing desk did not move.
Only a trace of disgust escaped through her brows and eyes.
He walked toward her step by step, gripped her wrist, and, as she struggled and tried to evade him, pressed her down onto the writing desk in one motion.
His cold fingers clamped around her chin, forcing her to raise her head and look at him.
His gaze was dark, and his voice was icy as well.
Only the tone in which the words emerged was eerily calm.
“Wanwan thinks that if you tear up the marriage contract, you’ll be able to marry him?”
The coldness and disgust in her eyes were far too obvious.
So obvious that even though Pei Yanchen knew it was a dream, his heart still hurt so badly that it spasmed.
He covered her eyes and brows with his palm, no longer looking at the emotions in her eyes.
Yet his other hand tightened around her waist, pulling her into his embrace and pressing against her lips as he kissed her fiercely and deeply.
She cried in suppressed anguish in his arms.
Scalding tears flowed across his fingertips. At last, the pain buried deep in his heart surpassed that uncontrollable fury and gained the upper hand.
But he still did not release her. His strong, powerful arms locked firmly around her waist, suppressing all her struggles.
With near cruelty, he shattered her thoughts of escaping and marrying someone else.
“The marriage contract is gone, but we can simply write another.”
“But the person you like—does he truly dare to marry you?”
The dream faded, and Pei Yanchen opened his eyes. As before, the images remaining in his mind were quickly shrouded in a hazy mist, and the woman’s face blurred along with them.
Only the jealousy that had penetrated to the marrow of his bones remained, circling deeply in his heart and refusing to disperse.
Pei Yanchen threw off the covers and got out of bed, his face dark as he went to the window.
He pushed it open. The chilly wind of early morning blew inside, but it could not disperse the uncontrolled darkness in his heart.
He slowly closed his eyes.
The image of her tearing up the marriage contract in the dream, along with those cold eyes concealing disgust, seemed to reappear before him.
Pei Yanchen clenched his fingers, forcibly suppressing the pain that churned through his mind like steel needles, and looked outside.
It was still early today. The sky had only just begun to brighten.
In the distant sky, the pale whiteness of dawn could still be seen.
In the past, Pei Yanchen had loved mornings like this.
The whole day’s work depended on its beginning.
Rising an hour early allowed him to accomplish many more things.
But today, it only made him feel irritated.
He left the room and entered the courtyard, standing alone amid the morning dew for a long while before completely suppressing the negative influence this haunting dream had brought him.
Yet deep in his heart, the urge to find the woman from the dream and imprison her at his side only grew stronger.