Chарtеr 16: Zhаоzhao, Will Thеrе Be а Reward?
“Zhаоzhао, dоn’t bе afrаid!”
Реi Yаn’s cold gаze was as firm as bеdrоck, рrоfоund аnd intеnse аs hе stаred at Yun Zhаоzhaо. His voicе, clеar and crisр like thе striking of jаdе, rang out with сonviction: “If shе dаrеs tо kill you, I will kill hеr!”
Nоt “I wоuld kill hеr,” but a morе resоlute, thunderоus vow—a blоod oаth—that he would dеfinitеlу kill her!
Реi Yan meant whаt he sаid!
Yun Zhаozhaо’s heart fluttеred likе а stаrtled dеer. Hеr almond-shареd eyes shone brightly as she bеаmed with a radiant, сhеerful smile: “Cоusin, I bеlieve you!”
“But I don’t need you to kill her. I just want to live well! If others don’t provoke me, I won’t provoke them!”
Must the ending in the storybooks inevitably come true?
Yun Zhaozhao did not believe in a predetermined fate. She trusted her own hands, and she trusted Pei Yan—they could change the future!
【Zhaozhao is the kindest girl!】
【I must protect Zhaozhao… protect my little wife…】
Pei Yan’s inner voice was fervent and resolute!
Filled with protective and possessive affection.
Yun Zhaozhao’s ears grew warm from hearing it. Shyly, she changed the subject: “Cousin, what will you do? Princess Chang is only forcing the Duke’s residence to break off the engagement for now.”
“Ignore the Duke’s residence. They are unimportant.”
Pei Yan’s eyes were icy and indifferent, showing no regard for the Duke’s residence at all. As for Princess Chang…
Pei Yan’s voice turned cold and sharp: “I will deal with her.”
【I’ll go now…】
【But…】
In Pei Yan’s eyes, the icy depths of his gaze rippled with faint waves.
Once his heart stirred, it could no longer be suppressed.
Pei Yan’s gaze grew subtle and profound. His saintly, emotionless iceberg of a handsome face was tinged with a hint of worldly desire. His voice steady and restrained, he asked softly: “Zhaozhao, if I do well, will you give me a reward?”
Pei Yan had been immersed in the teachings of sages since childhood, practicing self-restraint and propriety, and maintaining strict self-control. Men and women were all the same in his eyes—two eyes, one nose, one mouth, whether fat or thin, insignificant.
Zhaozhao was different!
He had liked Zhaozhao for a long time!
Every day, he yearned to grow closer to Zhaozhao!
His emotions could not be suppressed, and his desires were especially fervent, deafeningly so—
【The troublesome… mourning period still has half a year left】
【I truly wish… to marry Zhaozhao tomorrow…】
【Zhaozhao’s lips are so soft… kissing them… would they taste sweet? Or fragrant?】
“Cousin!” Yun Zhaozhao hurriedly interrupted his inner thoughts, “Do it first! We’ll talk about it after you’ve done it!”
What was the use of thinking?
It only made her little heart flutter wildly and her mind wander into indecent thoughts.
Hearing this, Pei Yan’s gaze turned both cold and bright: “Zhaozhao will give a reward?”
“Yes!” Yun Zhaozhao replied, as if coaxing a dog, painting a grand promise: “But I decide what the reward is! Cousin, you’re not allowed to set conditions!”
“Alright.” Satisfied, Pei Yan left.
Grand Tutor Pei was a man of strong action!
Yan Qing, the Deputy Minister of the Grand Judicial Court, received his urgent summons. Without even having time to change his clothes, with flour clinging to his chin and sleeves, he hurried in: “What’s the matter? So urgent!”
“Grand Tutor Pei, do you know I just started eating the flatbread my wife made?”
Yan Qing plopped down. The elegant, picture-perfect gentleman pulled a packed flatbread from his sleeve the next second, took a big bite, and then hypocritically asked Pei Yan: “Grand Tutor Pei, want some? My wife makes the best flatbread!”
A trace of disdain appeared on Pei Yan’s icy face.
His voice was cold: “No.””I’ll eat!” Yan Qing had no airs at all, taking bite after bite with great relish, washing it down with tea to moisten his throat: “So what’s this about? Go ahead and say it.”
Pei Yan said coldly, “Impeach Princess Chang.”
Pfft—
Yan Qing spat out a mouthful of tea, choking and coughing as he pounded his chest: “Cough, cough! Grand Tutor Pei, what did you just say? I didn’t hear clearly!”
“Impeach—”
“Stop!”
Yan Qing hurriedly cut Pei Yan off. He glanced around, no longer eating the pastry. Wrapping it up and tucking it into his robe, Yan Qing lowered his voice: “Even though this is your home, that’s Princess Chang we’re talking about! Watch your words!”
Yan Qing was puzzled.
He muttered, “Princess Chang is the Empress Dowager’s eldest daughter, the Emperor’s own sister!”
“In the capital, aside from the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, she holds the highest authority! The Emperor is young, the Empress Dowager has secluded herself in Buddhist devotion, and Princess Chang not only manages the inner palace but has even extended her reach into the imperial court!”
“The Emperor either listens to you, Grand Tutor Pei, or to Princess Chang. You’re the Emperor’s teacher, she’s the Emperor’s own sister—you’re like water and fire, incompatible! Grand Tutor Pei, why on earth would you want to impeach her?”
Pei Yan sat there coldly.
He was truly exceptionally handsome, with features like ink paintings, a straight nose and thin lips. His upright posture, clad in wide-sleeved blue robes, a jade-inlaid belt cinching a resilient waist.
Like a flower on a high peak, impossible to look away from.
Yet inspiring awe, making one afraid to approach rashly, lest they be frozen to death by this saintly jade sculpture.
Like Yan Qing, who kept a distance of two chairs between himself and Pei Yan, already feeling the chill, taking another sip of hot tea to warm up.
Who would have thought!
Pei Yan opened his mouth and made him spit again.
“Princess Chang is interfering in my marriage.”
Pfft—
Yan Qing choked and coughed, wiping his mouth awkwardly: “Your tea here is scalding, I won’t drink anymore. But why would Princess Chang meddle in your marriage?”
Pei Yan thought for a moment.
He wasn’t familiar with Princess Chang, so Pei Yan replied, “Too full and idle?”
This time, Yan Qing was glad he hadn’t been drinking tea.
Grand Tutor Pei truly had a way with shocking words!
Yan Qing, quick-witted and sharp-minded, scrutinized Pei Yan: “Is there a possibility that Princess Chang has taken a fancy to you and wants you to become her… intimate companion?”
Pei Yan instantly radiated coldness!
His gaze sharp as ice blades, piercingly fixed on Yan Qing: “Disgusting.”
Was he disgusted by Yan Qing’s speculation, or by Princess Chang?
Or perhaps both.
Yan Qing found it amusing: “Grand Tutor Pei, you have no idea how handsome your face is! If you weren’t so freezing cold, only to be admired from afar and never approached, how many dreamers in the capital would want to be with you…”
The icy glare was almost enough to slice him to pieces!
Yan Qing promptly shut his mouth, no longer provoking Grand Tutor Pei’s temper. He thought for a moment: “How do you plan to impeach her? You must have a reason, right?”
“Torturing a Male Consort to death and abandoning the body in the wilderness.”
Pei Yan’s words stunned Yan Qing. Pei Yan told him that after leaving the Duke’s residence, he received a message from an informant and went outside the city—otherwise, he would have returned home early to see Zhaozhao.
In the wilderness outside the city.
A young, handsome man, dressed in luxurious clothing, had died a tragic death. Whipped and tortured to death while still alive!
Yan Qing immediately pressed: “How do you know he was Princess Chang’s Male Consort?”
“I’ve seen him in the palace, right by Princess Chang’s side.”
Princess Chang did not yet have an Imperial Consort, but she kept many Male Consorts. Given her noble status, even if she killed a Male Consort, no one would dare investigate her, and she would face no punishment.
Pei Yan decided to give it a try!
“Yan Qing, let’s join forces and accuse her!”Yan Qing carefully considered and confirmed, “Are we really going to sue? With the Emperor and the Empress Dowager involved, even if we make a huge fuss, it’s unlikely to yield any results. On top of that, we’ll offend Princess Chang. It’s all effort for no reward!”
“Vice Minister of the Grand Judicial Court, are you afraid?” Pei Yan’s icy voice employed Provocation Tactics.
And Yan Qing fell right for it!
“Afraid of what? I’ll do it! But once it’s done, you have to praise me a couple of times so my wife knows how brave and fearless I am!”
Pei Yan rested his forehead in his hand, unable to bear the sight. “Fine.”
How could there be such a wife-whipped man in this world?