Li Wan's heart trembled, feeling as though she were being watched by a venomous snake. She steadied her breathing and hurried over to Pei Qing. "Husband."
Seeing his wife rush toward him without hesitation, Pei Qing felt a flicker of amusement. So she did remember she had a husband. Still, it was precisely because of this gesture that Pei Qing abandoned the thought of doing away with Li Qingchen.
Pei Qing's demeanor was gentle, his features refined and scholarly. He took his wife's small hand in his and asked with pointed meaning, "Didn't Wanwan enter the palace to see the Empress? Why is she chatting alone with Lord Li?"
Li Qingchen couldn't stand the way Pei Qing pressed Li Wan so relentlessly. He furrowed his brow slightly and said, "Between siblings, there's no need for the formality one would show outsiders."
Pei Qing sneered inwardly. Siblings—the problem was, did these two share any blood at all?
Pei Qing longed to fire back a retort, but he remembered they were still within the palace grounds. If he pressed the matter here and made a scene, it would reflect poorly on his wife's reputation.
And so he forced the anger in his chest down. His calloused palm traced lightly along his wife's slender wrist, sending a tingling sensation through her. Li Wan instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but he only gripped it tighter. "Wanwan, I'll take you home."
Li Wan glanced at Li Qingchen, who was naturally looking at her as well. He smiled warmly and gave her a slight nod. This display of sibling affection was a thorn in Pei Qing's eyes, and the corners of his lips turned cold.
The moment they left the palace, Pei Qing scooped his wife up with ease. Startled, Li Wan instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck in a panic. Since people were constantly coming and going from the palace, she didn't dare make a fuss. She lowered her voice and asked, "Pei Qing, have you lost your mind?"
Pei Qing's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but he said nothing. Yun Bai was waiting outside Pei Qing's carriage. Seeing the Marquis and his wife approaching, Yun Bai quickly clasped his hands in greeting. Pei Qing strode past without pause and carried his wife into the carriage.
Pei Qing's carriage was naturally quite spacious—like a small pavilion, fully equipped with everything one might need. A blanket woven from Ice Silkworm Silk lay atop the seat, impossibly soft. Pei Qing set his wife down steadily upon it and pressed forward.
Sensing danger, Li Wan tried to struggle, but the man calmly seized her wrists and pinned them above her head. His warm breath fanned against her neck, causing her to shrink back involuntarily.
"Have I lost my mind?" Pei Qing let out a cold laugh, his voice sharp with accusation. "Why don't you ask yourself what you've done?"
He had reminded her more than once not to have contact with Li Qingchen, yet his Wanwan never seemed to remember. He didn't know if he hadn't made himself clear enough, or if she was deliberately sneaking off to see Li Qingchen.
His words made it sound as though she had done something to wrong him.
Li Wan's beautiful eyes flew wide, her chest heaving. "Then why don't you ask yourself what you've done? Is it wrong for me to want to visit my family?"
"So by your logic, Wanwan, protecting you is my fault?" No matter how she spun it, she still wanted to return to Qingzhou with Li Qingchen—to the place they had once lived. Pei Qing lowered his head to touch the tip of her small nose. "Wanwan, do you even remember who your husband is?"
Li Wan's skin was so fair that even the lightest touch left a red mark.
Seeing his stubborn attitude and his attempt to turn the blame on her, she shot back, "Have I not fulfilled my duties as a wife?"
When had she ever failed to treat him as her husband?
It was precisely because he had gone too far that things had come to this.
Her voice rose with grievance, the corners of her eyes reddening with anger.
Staring at her chattering little mouth, Pei Qing decided he was done arguing. Better to do something more practical. His fingers laced through hers as he lowered his head and captured her glossy red lips. Li Wan was angry at the moment and naturally didn't want him kissing her. The man bit down on her tender lip, and the moment she opened her mouth to protest, he slipped his tongue inside, greedily drinking in the sweetness of her lips and teeth.
Seeing the watery indignation in his wife's eyes, Pei Qing smiled. "Wanwan was the one who said she would fulfill her duties as a wife. Surely Wanwan isn't one to back out now?"
Li Wan had thin skin and could never match the man's silver tongue. She tried to push him away, but her wrists were already in his grip.
Her voice came out soft and weak. "Stop."
"Shh." He continued to kiss her lips, smiling as he reminded her, "Wanwan had better keep her voice down. I don't think you'd want anyone else to hear you, would you?"
His reminder made Li Wan realize they were still in the carriage—clearly on the road back to the residence. She could hear the wheels rumbling beneath them.
And beyond the carriage, she could hear the street vendors calling out their wares.
The sounds made Li Wan terribly nervous. Her ears burned, and her body grew hot.
At the sight of this, Pei Qing's stern expression softened a few degrees. He teased, "Wanwan, weren't you just saying you wanted to fulfill your wifely duties and obligations? Is this reluctance now?"
How could he be like this.
Seeing his wife's overly tense expression, Pei Qing's heart softened as well. He knew his wife was shy, and after everything she had endured last night, she naturally couldn't handle much more today.
Pei Qing fell silent for a moment.
A moment later, the man remained impeccably dressed, but the woman's ru skirt had slipped to the ground, her pupils unfocused. Pei Qing wiped his distinct, well-defined fingers with a handkerchief and asked with a slight smile, "Does Wanwan feel comfortable?"
He was pondering a question—whether his Wanwan could only learn to behave this way.
The two were in a sulk with each other, and what Pei Qing received in return was naturally a glare from his wife. But he didn't mind. His large palm gently stroked his wife's calf as he answered on his own, "It seems she's quite comfortable indeed."
Li Wan raised her eyes to glare at him, but her features were naturally soft, and when she glared, her eyes were watery and bright—not the least bit intimidating.
Pei Qing wondered how his wife managed to be so lively and innocent. How did she think that glaring at him would make him let her go?
The more she glared at him, the more he wanted to tease her.
And of course, he did tease her.
Because inside the carriage, with the jostling of the ride, all of one's senses became exceptionally acute.
Though he hadn't truly united with his wife, as long as he could bring his wife satisfaction, Pei Qing felt satisfied and joyful as well.
His large palm brushed her sweat-dampened hair to one side.
The man's kiss landed on his wife's slightly dazed eyelashes, his voice hoarse, "Wanwan."
His breath was warm, while the blanket behind her was cool. Because the space was cramped, she couldn't dodge even if she wanted to, and whenever she tried to move away, the man would grasp her ankle. Li Wan felt as though she were caught between fire and water.
At the height of passion, her toes curled slightly.
Pei Qing couldn't bear to watch and simply pulled her into his arms. His hand remained where it was as he comforted Li Wan, "Don't be nervous. No one outside can hear."
And he wouldn't let anyone else hear her voice either.
Though only his hand had been used, Li Wan's legs were still weak when she exited the carriage. Her face was flushed, clearly showing she had just experienced an intimate encounter.
Of course, Pei Qing had no intention of letting her walk on her own. He draped a dark-colored cloak over her, hiding her completely, and carried her into the residence.
Afraid of being discovered, Li Wan's boneless fingers clutched tightly at the jade pendant on Pei Qing's waist, her eyes squeezed shut.
The corners of Pei Qing's lips curved upward slightly.
What's wrong with the madam?The wet nurse hurried over upon seeing the madam being carried back.
Pei Qing said unhurriedly, "She was exhausted at the palace today, so I carried her back. The weather is growing warmer, and she perspired quite a bit in the carriage just now. Go fetch a new set of undergarments for her."
Though the wet nurse found it strange, she hurried off anyway. Pei Qing carried his wife to the hot spring pool at the back. "Wanwan, I won't bring up your meeting with Li Qingchen today, but you must never mention returning to Qingzhou again. Alright?"
Hearing his gentle yet unyielding tone, Li Wan's heart sank halfway. She knew there was no reasoning with this man anymore. She felt stifled inside but didn't know how to relieve it.
Pei Qing scooped up a handful of water and unhurriedly washed the hand that had just helped his wife find release, his voice slow and measured, "If Wanwan doesn't speak, I'll take it as Wanwan agreeing."
Li Wan: "…"
Meanwhile, news of Li Wan being carried back to the main courtyard reached Old Madam as well. The moment she heard it, she was furious. "Is Li Wan so precious that she can't even walk a few steps? She still needs the eldest to carry her into the residence. Who does the eldest think he is? The Prime Minister of the court, bearing a marquis title as well. Isn't she afraid this will damage his reputation?"
They say one should marry a virtuous wife—Li Wan didn't have a single trace of virtue to her name. She didn't know what kind of love potion that Li Wan had fed her eldest son, but he indulged her so thoroughly. He wasn't even that tolerant with his own son and daughter.
"Don't be angry, Aunt. Perhaps Sister-in-law truly is tired. This is pear soup with rock sugar that Zisu specially simmered for Aunt. Do have a taste." At that moment, Zisu lifted the curtain and walked in, holding a steaming bowl of soup in her hands, smiling with such innocent charm.
Hearing this, Old Madam felt comforted deep in her heart. "Zisu is the one who's truly considerate and virtuous."
Li Wan had been married into the Yongkang Marquis Manor for so many years, yet never once had she come to serve at Old Madam's side. When she first married in, Old Madam had intended to establish rules for her, but before her knees had even bent an inch, the eldest had come and carried her away. Which lady of any household had it as easy as Li Wan? And she wasn't even from a prestigious family.
Old Madam glanced at the demure Zisu and gave Old Madam Li an order—to summon the Marquis and his wife tomorrow.
So after the morning court session ended, Pei Qing brought his wife to Old Madam's quarters. Inside the room were only three people: Old Madam herself, Zisu, and one elderly attendant.
Li Wan had a good guess at what the Old Madam intended, but she certainly would not let the Old Madam have her way.
The Old Madam first had the two of them sit, then had Zisu step forward to serve tea. After the tea was served, the Old Madam suddenly smiled and said, "The weather is growing hot, and during the day one can only stay indoors, which must be dreadfully dull. So I was thinking, why not have Zisu go to the main courtyard more often to keep you company, just to chat with Wan Wan. I wonder if Wan Wan has any objections?"
Pei Qing's brows knitted heavily, the anger in his chest already rising. He was about to speak when his wife gave a gentle smile and said, "Your daughter-in-law naturally has no objections."
The man seated above abruptly darkened his gaze, the smile at the corners of his lips fading as well. His eyes fell directly upon his wife, who wore a faint smile at the corners of her mouth, trying to find evidence of her displeasure on her face.
But unfortunately, there was none.
Pei Qing set the gilded tea cup back down with a heavy clatter, and suddenly let out a cold laugh.