In the evening, Pei Zhiyu returned to the residence along with the rewards from the palace.
After seeing off the eunuch sent from the palace, Jiang Sui paced back and forth, examining the brocade headpieces and the set of black armor, her fingertips carefully brushing over them.
To Pei Zhiyu’s eyes, her curious expression made her look like a little sparrow hopping joyfully among shiny trinkets.
The curve of his lips deepened unconsciously. “Do you like them?”
Jiang Sui’s gaze lingered for a moment before she looked up. “I do, but…”
She stepped forward and tentatively tugged at Pei Zhiyu’s sleeve. “This was obtained through my husband’s peril. I would rather not have these.”
She was lying. The real reason was that thinking of these things being connected to the Seventh Princess made her extremely displeased.
By her husband’s side, there should only be her things.
The gentle tug at his cuff made Pei Zhiyu’s breath grow heavier. Jiang Sui’s soft voice flowed into his ears, and the fingers hidden in his sleeve twitched. Suppressing the hoarseness in his voice, he said:
“Rest assured, my lady. This is only once. I won’t let you worry again.”
As he spoke, he took the opportunity to grasp her tugging hand, wrapping that soft hand in his palm and gently enclosing it:
“…Trust me.”
Jiang Sui’s lashes trembled slightly. The warm, rough sensation enveloping the back of her hand sent a shiver through half her body, and a numbing tingle rose from the small of her back.
She wanted so badly… so badly to throw herself into him.
She gave a muffled response, looking somewhat dejected, but in truth it was because of the fierce battle raging within her heart.
She both wanted to pull her hand away to escape this sweet torment, and yet she truly craved this small point of contact, unwilling to let go.
Seeing no sign of aversion from her, Pei Zhiyu’s heart stirred as well. Noticing she still seemed a bit down, he tentatively reached out to support her back, using the pretense of comfort to draw her into his embrace:
“Truly, rest assured, my lady. Your husband won’t let you worry again.”
He was nervous as he made this move. There were still servants around, and he feared Jiang Sui might feel he was overstepping. His embrace was cautious, like a genuine, simple gesture of comfort.
In the past, Pei Zhiyu would never have made such a nearly reckless move.
But after last night, whenever he saw Jiang Sui appear before him, he couldn’t help but recall that soft, fragrant sensation.
He had thought it might temporarily ease his longing, but it only proved to be drinking poison to quench thirst—it made him even more… even more unable to restrain himself.
Such a simple embrace was nowhere near enough, but the remaining shred of reason reminded him that this was all he could do.
If he held her any tighter, he would frighten her.
After all, right now… the person in his arms already seemed quite stiff.
Pei Zhiyu lowered his gaze, his chin gently brushing against her hair bun. He saw the person in his arms with lashes lowered, trembling slightly as if uneasy, her snow-white cheeks flushed with a shy pink.
He unconsciously softened his breathing, wondering… had he still frightened her?
But he didn’t know that Jiang Sui wasn’t afraid at all—she was struggling to suppress her excitement.
She bit her lower lip tightly, her lowered lashes concealing the deep color surging in her eyes, and took a deep, almost greedy breath.
The fragrance of the sachet she had given him, mixed with a faint hint of ambergris, wrapped around her together.
The scent from yesterday was absent, which made Jiang Sui even more satisfied.
Husband… her husband was holding her.
Tighter, tighter.
She wanted it even tighter…
Her fingers hanging at her side curled, and driven by instinct, she slowly raised her arms and wrapped them around his waist.
Pei Zhiyu’s pupils contracted slightly, and his whole body trembled almost imperceptibly. The hand resting on her back tightened involuntarily, then restrainedly relaxed again.
Suisui was hugging him too… that should mean… she didn’t dislike it, right?
His breath trembled slightly with excitement. A voice in his heart screamed to hold her tight, tighter still, to press her close against him… but in the end, Pei Zhiyu released her before the embrace lasted too long.
He curled his hand into a fist against his lips and coughed lightly twice, masking the unnatural curve of his mouth:
“…My lady, shall we have dinner served?”
Jiang Sui obediently acknowledged, turning her back as if shyly pouring tea. But her hand gripping the teacup was far more forceful than usual, her fingertips trembling slightly.
If only her husband had held her a little tighter just now… but well, never mind. Being able to have this was already better than before.
Only now, her mind was filled entirely with that brief, fleeting embrace, and she could hardly bear it.
To distract herself, Jiang Sui handed him the teacup and added:
“Husband, the palace sent an invitation today for the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet.”
Pei Zhiyu nodded. He already knew about this—Chenbi had reported it to him earlier. But when Jiang Sui brought it up of her own accord, he still curved his lips into a warm smile and asked with just the right measure of inquiry:
“Is it… Consort Shu’s invitation?”
Jiang Sui nodded, her round, slightly upturned eyes bright and seemingly without any guard:
“It should be held for the Seventh Princess, right? Her Highness just returned to the capital; she ought to meet everyone in the capital and get acquainted.”
Pei Zhiyu stared into her eyes, his gaze gradually growing hazy, though his voice remained as steady as ever: “That should be the intention. You’ve thought it through well, my lady.”
“Then when is the chrysanthemum banquet? Do you need me to prepare anything for you, my lady?”
“Five days from now… No need to prepare anything.”
“Alright, I’ll have Qingzhu escort you there, and when it’s over, I’ll come pick up my wife and bring you home.”
Jiang Sui’s eyes curved into crescents at his words, two small dimples appearing on her cheeks with her smile: “That sounds lovely.”
Pei Zhiyu set down the teacup he had barely sipped from, and with the movement, he leaned forward slightly, catching sight of his reflection in Jiang Sui’s eyes, growing larger until it nearly filled her entire pupils.
If only… if only Suisui would smile like that only for him.
If only Suisui would look only at him.
What chrysanthemum appreciation banquet—he didn’t want her to go at all, didn’t want her laughing and chatting with so many irrelevant people.
Pei Zhiyu lightly bit the tip of his tongue, stepping aside just as the maidservants entered to set the table, conveniently concealing the surging desire in his eyes.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Jiang Sui, who was obliviously directing the maidservants with focused attention. His throat tightened slightly, and he struggled to look away.
But Jiang Sui was equally distracted, failing to notice the rather conspicuous change in Pei Zhiyu’s demeanor.
It was only at the dinner table that she casually remarked:
“Oh, by the way, husband, I’d like to visit home next month.”
Pei Zhiyu’s hand, which was placing food in her bowl, paused mid-motion. His knuckles turned slightly white, and his voice came out a bit strained:
“…Why?”
Could it be that Suisui had discovered something and wanted to leave him?
No, that couldn’t be… Just moments ago, she hadn’t said anything.
Then why, exactly?
Jiang Sui lowered her eyes:
“Earlier, Mother wanted me to accompany her to the temple to pray for blessings, but I’ve been busy with matters at the estate and never had the time. Next month I should be free, so I thought I’d go back together to visit Father and Mother.”
She lifted her lashes as she spoke, her expression innocent: “Is that alright, husband?”
Pei Zhiyu’s hand, which had been gripping the chopsticks, relaxed again. He nonchalantly placed the food into her bowl and smiled warmly:
“Of course, that’s fine.”
“When the time comes, I’ll accompany my wife back.”
Jiang Sui furrowed her brows slightly, a hint of hesitation in her voice: “But isn’t your Imperial City Agency very busy, husband?”
“It’s no matter.” Under the flickering candlelight, Pei Zhiyu’s smiling eyes appeared exceptionally gentle—almost disturbingly so.
“I’ll arrange things at the Imperial City Agency in advance. No matter what, I can’t let my wife return home alone.”