Naturally, one must fulfill your mother's greatest wish…
Li Wan's watery gaze carried a hint of reproach. Though she didn't want the man to take a concubine at this critical moment, Zisu was clearly not someone to be trifled with. If she allowed the Old Madam to force the girl in, her days ahead would certainly be difficult.
Not just for her—Zhaozhao and Yan'er might suffer as well.
Rather than that, it would be better for her to play the virtuous wife and proactively find him two herself.
Having reasoned this through, Li Wan's mood improved somewhat, though her heart still felt uneasy.
"What's the matter? Did Mother bully you again?" Seeing the reproach in her watery apricot eyes, Pei Qing found it amusing and reached out to tap her delicate nose.
His attitude toward his wife was clearly gentle, but inwardly he was annoyed by the Old Madam's constant needling of his wife. He was considering whether to move the Old Madam to a separate residence or take Wanwan with him to an outpost posting.
Between the two, he leaned toward the latter, because then no one would disturb his intimacy with Wanwan, and in a new place, he could help her unlock more positions from those storybooks—she would surely love that.
At this thought, Pei Qing's gaze grew even more tender.
Li Wan: "There's a new cousin in the household. Did you know?"
"I just returned from outside—how would I know?" Because his mind was still occupied with thoughts of being intimate with his wife, Pei Qing answered casually.
Seeing his utterly indifferent attitude, Li Wan felt even more stifled. She wanted to tell him about the Old Madam's plan to make Zisu his concubine, but she worried he might seize the opportunity and agree—then she would have shot herself in the foot.
She turned her head away and said nothing more.
Seeing his wife angry, Pei Qing abandoned his untimely thoughts. He spoke with a smile: "You are the Marchioness. You have full authority over everything in this household. If you don't like Zisu, just send her away tomorrow."
"Then Mother would be so heartbroken." Li Wan couldn't help but sneer.
And if one Zisu left, there might be a Peony, or a Crabapple, to take her place.
A beauty was a beauty—even when angry, she was charming whether smiling or pouting.
Pei Qing found it hard to suppress a smile, though he kept a serious expression as he taught his wife the ways of the world. "Wanwan, didn't I tell you before? You are my wife. You should do whatever your heart desires. Why should you care whether she's heartbroken? Did she give birth to you? Did she raise you?"
If she had time to worry about whether her mother-in-law was upset, why not care about him instead? Why did she keep doing things that angered and worried him—especially meeting Li Qingchen in secret?
With that, Pei Qing's brow grew deeper as he added, "Wanwan, I am your husband. You only need to care about whether I'm happy or sad. You need not concern yourself with anything else, nor trouble your heart over it. Understand?"
He had the ability to give her everything and smooth over all obstacles—she only needed to rely on him.
Li Wan wanted very much to nod, but she wasn't as carefree as the man. Besides, it was she whom the Old Madam was pressuring, not him.
"You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll have them bring the meal." Seeing her silent, Pei Qing assumed she had taken his words to heart. His slender fingers traced his wife's delicate lips as he asked with a smile.
The midday meal was, of course, still medicinal fare—pork bone soup, braised mandarin fish, eight-treasure rice. It all looked exquisite, but Li Wan had been eating it for over half a month and naturally had no appetite at all. She even thought the breakfast at the Old Madam's quarters wasn't bad.
The man read her thoughts and directly lifted her by the waist to sit in his lap, picking up a piece of tender fish and feeding it to her mouth.
Li Wan: "…"
To avoid angering the man, Li Wan took a bite of the fish. Pei Qing's expression instantly softened, and he planted a approving kiss on her eyelashes. "Good Wanwan."
Li Wan couldn't help but blush. She grabbed at Pei Qing's gold-embroidered sleeve. "Husband, I can manage on my own. You should eat first."
Pei Qing's voice was slightly husky, his breath heavy. "I just praised Wanwan, and now she's being naughty again."
Li Wan had no choice but to obediently lean against his chest and let him feed her.
Only after his wife in his arms was full did Pei Qing begin to eat at a leisurely pace. Yun Bai couldn't bear to watch and asked Pei Qing whether he should take the dishes back to reheat them. Pei Qing gave him a bland look, and Yun Bai immediately raised his hands in surrender—how could he forget that in their Yongkang Marquis Estate, nothing mattered more than the Madam.
"Husband, has the food gone cold?" Li Wan asked upon seeing this.
"How could it?" Pei Qing took a slow bite of cloud-pattern cake. "Would Wanwan like a taste?"
Li Wan immediately shook her head—she was rather disdainful of it.
Pei Qing said nothing at the sight.
Just as they finished their midday meal and were preparing for an afternoon nap, a servant came in to announce, "My Lord, my Lady, Young Master Li has arrived."
"Is he here for me?" Pei Qing glanced at his wife, who looked somewhat startled in his arms, and asked indifferently.
The servant looked embarrassed: "Young Master Li said that today he accompanied Duke Chengen on a hunt and caught two snow hares. He wishes to present them to the Lady for her amusement."
The temperature around Pei Qing dropped several degrees. Both were men—how could he not see through Li Qingchen's intentions?
With just two hares, he wanted Wanwan to think of him and long for him all day? He wasn't worthy.
A faint smile curved at the corner of Pei Qing's lips as he asked Li Wan, "Wanwan, would you like to eat roasted hare tonight?"
"Brother means well." Li Wan shot him a fierce glare, her beautiful eyes full of coquettish reproach, her appearance as lovely as a blooming flower.
"Then I'll go see him. Wanwan, will you wait obediently for me in the room?"
Li Wan gently bit her lip, a trace of hesitation flickering across her delicate brows. Clearly, she wanted to go see Li Qingchen herself.
Pei Qing's expression turned somewhat cold, and the murderous aura within him threatened to escape his control. Of course, this anger was not directed at his wife, but at that persistent, unrelenting Li Qingchen.
Pei Qing's jade-like hand caressed his wife's cheek, his deep voice carrying a hint of authority: "Wanwan, don't make me angry."
Pei Qing held a prominent position at court and had inherited the Marquis's title. With the passage of years, his presence had grown increasingly formidable. It was only in the company of his beloved wife that he deliberately restrained himself, appearing gentle and refined. Now, without that restraint, he looked rather intimidating.
Li Wan bit her lip lightly and nodded slightly.
Pei Qing squeezed her slender wrist. "Wait for my return."
Pei Qing received Li Qingchen in the study. Seeing that the other man had indeed come to deliver hares, Pei Qing exchanged pleasantries, accepted the cage containing the hares, and then promptly dismissed his brother-in-law without ordering anyone to escort him out.
Li Qingchen was not one to linger where he wasn't wanted. After being "shown out," he walked unhurriedly toward the gates of the Marquis's residence. Just as he turned a corner, a familiar voice called out, "Young Master Li, please wait a moment."
Li Qingchen stopped. The person approaching was the wet nurse who served by Li Wan's side. Recognizing her as someone close to Li Wan, Li Qingchen's face broke into a warm smile that felt like a spring breeze. "Nanny, what business do you have?"
"The Lady asked me to deliver a message to Young Master Li. She wishes for you to do her a favor."
Could it be that Wanwan had finally come around…
Li Qingchen's demeanor grew even more gracious. "Please, speak, Nanny."
The wet nurse looked around carefully, and seeing no one about, stepped forward and whispered something into Li Qingchen's ear.
Li Qingchen was greatly surprised. "These words came from Wanwan?"
The wet nurse nodded.
Li Qingchen's expression turned serious. "Go back and tell Wanwan that the people she needs, I will find for her as soon as possible. Tell her not to worry."
"Then Young Master Li, take care." The wet nurse curtsied and, when no one was watching, quietly slipped back to the main quarters.
Little did she know, this scene had already been observed by someone hidden in the shadows.
In the study, Pei Qing lounged lazily against the back of his grand armchair. His handsome face and deep, sharp brows carried an innate air of severity.
"What message did the Lady have the wet nurse deliver?"
As the head of the household, Pei Qing had his own shadow guards. His shadow guards served three purposes: first, to investigate court secrets; second, to protect the family of the Yongkang Marquis; and third, to keep watch over his wife.
And this surveillance extended not only to his wife but also to those around her. Of course, the ultimate purpose was still to prevent any harm from befalling her.
His wife was so delicate—she naturally required his utmost protection, care, and love.
Pei Qing awaited Yun Bai's answer, only to see the man hesitating, looking at him with visible difficulty.
Pei Qing turned the jade thumb ring on his finger and frowned. "Speak plainly."
Yun Bai was on the verge of tears. He didn't want to say it, but he had no choice. As he spoke, his teeth chattered uncontrollably: "Marquis, the Lady asked the wet nurse to have Young Master Li find her two… two women of delicate features and gentle temperament."
The study fell into dead silence.