Chaрtеr 15: Zhаоzhаo Begins Тrаining the Dog!
“Grаnd… Grand Tutоr Реi!”
Хiао Shuyuе wаs sо frightеned she bеgan to stammer.
Grаnd Тutor Реi wаs thе mоst outstаnding mаn in thе world! Amоng thе cаpital’s nobilitу, eldеrs in every hоusehоld prаisеd Grand Tutоr Pei daу in аnd dау out as а сарable ministеr who gоverned thе nation аnd brought pеace, urging thе уоunger gеnеration to lеarn frоm him.
Вut how cоuld such qualitiеs be lеаrnеd through mеre imitatiоn?
In Xiaо Shuуuе’s eyes, Grand Tutor Pei wаs likе an ice-cаrvеd jade statuе, frеezing everything in his path.
She dared not approach, afraid of being frozen to death.
And she absolutely dared not offend him!
Terrified, she quickly obeyed and released Yun Zhaozhao, performing a proper bow. “Greetings, Grand Tutor Pei.”
Pei Yan withdrew his icy gaze, his long legs moving swiftly and urgently. In the blink of an eye, he stood before Yun Zhaozhao. 【Her clothes are disheveled, her hair is messy】
Pei Yan’s eyes held suppressed displeasure. He raised his hand to help Yun Zhaozhao tidy up, but she dodged him.
“Cousin, Xiao Shuyue was just joking.”
Yun Zhaozhao’s cheeks were flushed, her apricot-shaped eyes glistening with watery light, exuding a stunningly delicate and charming demeanor.
She didn’t know when Pei Yan had arrived.
Nor did she know if he had heard Xiao Shuyue’s words?
Immortal maiden… it was too embarrassing.
She had only said it casually when threatening Pei Yuzhen, never expecting Xiao Shuyue to take it seriously!
“Zhaozhao, I’ll head back first.” Xiao Shuyue was truly afraid of Grand Tutor Pei. Not daring to stay longer, she quickly took her leave.
As soon as she left,
Pei Yan couldn’t hold back any longer. He stepped closer to Yun Zhaozhao once more, reaching out his hand… Yun Zhaozhao tried to dodge again, but Pei Yan immediately commanded coldly, “Don’t move!”
Yun Zhaozhao obediently stayed still.
Pei Yan was very close to her. Yun Zhaozhao could smell the frosty, ink-like fragrance emanating from him—clean, pure, and icy.
It lingered before her nose; even her breath carried the cool scent of ink, gradually seeping into her being.
Subtly and domineeringly erasing the scents left by others.
Pei Yan’s aura was too cold, making one calm.
But his actions—
Pei Yan straightened the silver hairpin that had tilted on her head.
His inner thoughts—
【The silver lotus hairpin with a pearl—this is what I bought for Zhaozhao…】
The cold air around Pei Yan eased slightly. His gaze drifted downward, his dark, profound eyes hiding and restraining desire as they slowly and intently swept over Yun Zhaozhao’s brows and eyes…
【Zhaozhao’s eyes… are filled with me… good】
【Zhaozhao’s face… is flushed】
【Zhaozhao… only I can kiss】
Pei Yan’s deep, cold gaze followed Yun Zhaozhao’s cute, upturned nose and landed on her lips.
Moist, soft, and delicate, as red and enticing as a flower.
【Must take the initiative…】
【Want to kiss Zhaozhao’s little mouth…】
“Cousin!” Yun Zhaozhao’s heart raced, her face flushing with urgency as she glared at him with watery, indignant apricot eyes!
Pei Yan’s gaze was no longer just wanting to kiss her.
It was filled with desire, perversion, and greed—as if he wanted to devour her whole!
Yun Zhaozhao felt her legs go weak under his stare, her heart trembling with fear.
“Cousin, have you forgotten I’m still in mourning?”
“I haven’t married you yet, you mustn’t… If you bully me, I’ll tell Aunt!”
Pei Yan’s handsome face remained cold and aloof like a saintly jade carving, devoid of desire.
But his eyes betrayed him, gazing obsessively at Yun Zhaozhao as his Adam’s apple bobbed violently.
【Mother can’t control me】
“Cousin, don’t you believe I won’t marry you!”
For a moment, Pei Yan felt as if the shell of his calm rationality had cracked. Intense emotion surfaced on his face, his voice hoarse and urgent. “Zhaozhao, don’t joke about that!”
“Cousin, you’re so fierce!”
Yun Zhaozhao softened her tone, her apricot eyes brimming with watery light as she looked at him accusingly. “You scared me.”【I scared Zhaozhao…】
Pei Yan jolted awake, his slender, jade-like fingers clenching tightly. He took a deep breath, suppressing the desire in his heart.
“Zhaozhao, I’m sorry.”
In his entire life, Grand Tutor Pei had never apologized so quickly or lowered his head without the slightest hesitation.
He watched Yun Zhaozhao carefully, trying his best to soften and gentle his tone: “Zhaozhao, don’t cry. It was my fault, I shouldn’t have been harsh with you.”
Yun Zhaozhao let out a delicate huff, turning her back to him and using the pretense of wiping her tears to secretly smile.
She was pretending!
She wasn’t afraid of her cousin; she just remembered what the little imp of a system had said, feeling a vague yet strong intuition—she couldn’t let her cousin kiss her!
Her cousin was like a starving beast on a snowy mountain, cold and steady on the surface, patiently hunting without revealing any flaws…
But his body was warm, startlingly hot.
Once he tasted sweetness…
Yun Zhaozhao was afraid she’d be kissed to pieces!
“Cousin!” Yun Zhaozhao puffed out her delicate, rosy cheeks, turning to stare at Pei Yan. “Do you know the Yun family rules?”
“I know.”
Pei Yan had memorized them since childhood. “Women of the Yun family only become the head mistress of the household.”
“To marry a Yun family woman, one must never take concubines or keep mistresses or maidservants.”
“If there is betrayal, part ways and go separate paths.”
The Yun family was a prominent clan in Jiangnan, wealthy, with daughters each more beautiful than the last. Men lined up to seek their hands in marriage!
Back then, the Duke had not yet inherited his title. While on official business in Jiangnan, he fell in love with Madam Yun at first sight. He visited her home with gifts five times before finally succeeding in his proposal.
He knew full well the Yun family’s marriage rules, swearing to the heavens he would abide by them. Yet, behind Madam Yun’s back, he kept a mistress for over a decade, fathering two illegitimate children.
How disgusting!
“Zhaozhao, I only want to marry you.”
【In this lifetime, I only want Zhaozhao!】
【Without Zhaozhao, I’d rather grow old alone】
Yun Zhaozhao’s heart raced!
She had heard Pei Yan’s inner thoughts and remembered the ending the little imp had mentioned from the storybook.
She believed her cousin could keep his word!
But one thing at a time!
Yun Zhaozhao cleared her throat, her face flushed. “Cousin, if you want to marry me as your wife, at home, you have to listen to me!”
“Alright.”
Pei Yan felt pleased. 【Is Zhaozhao… going to set rules for me?】
【Zhaozhao is so adorable!】
“Cousin, please stand farther away!”
Yun Zhaozhao huffed, hands on her hips. “We’re not married yet, don’t stand so close!”
Pei Yan found the latter part somewhat familiar. It was as if he had said something similar to others: “I have a cleanliness obsession, gentlemen, please stand farther away!”
【Hmm… he and Zhaozhao look like a married couple】
Pei Yan took half a step back. Despite having enviably long legs—one of his steps equaled three of others—this half-step… Yun Zhaozhao could still bump into his chin if she stood on her tiptoes.
Garlic bird!
Yun Zhaozhao pursed her moist, crimson lips and brought it up herself: “Pei Yuzhu and Pei Yuzhen came earlier.”
She looked at him, displeased. “Cousin, they came on behalf of the Duke’s estate, trying to get me to break off the engagement and leave the capital. The Duke even promised that if Pei Yuzhen succeeded, he would legitimize that mistress.”
“They’re dreaming!” Pei Yan was furious.
His gaze turned icy, a chilling aura radiating from him. Yun Zhaozhao had just shivered when Pei Yan immediately restrained himself. His cold voice carried anger: “Zhaozhao, no one can tear our marriage apart!”
“What about Princess Chang?”
Yun Zhaozhao finally said it. She only had one month left to live.
She couldn’t meet Princess Chang, who was far away in her resplendent palace, and could only turn to Pei Yan for help.
“Cousin.”Yun Zhaozhao tugged on Pei Yan’s sleeve, her almond-shaped eyes glistening with grievance as she looked at him. “With just a word from Princess Chang, the Duke’s family came to break off the engagement.”
“If the engagement isn’t broken off, what if she tries to kill me?”
“Cousin, I’m scared.”