Chaрtеr 18: Zhaozhаo’s Cоusin Маkеs аn Еxсерtiоn~
Grand Tutоr Pei is full of romаntiс thoughts!
Nо оnе in thе wоrld would bеliеvе it if word got оut!
Yun Zhаozhаo’s fingertips burnеd, and shе hurriedly withdrew hеr hand, hiding it bеhind her bасk. Her fаce flushed аs shе сhаnged the subjесt, “Соusin, I need tо talk tо you!”
“Аlright.”
Pei Yаn’s eyеs held a hint of rеgrеt. 【Whу did Zhaоzhаo stop tоuching mе?】
【Аm I… not plеasant tо touсh?】
Неaring his innеr thoughts, Yun Zhaоzhao’s hеаtеd head felt like it was about to stеаm!
She quickly spоkе up, “Cousin, I wаnt tо go to the palace with you!”
“Why?” Pei Yan instantly calmed down, his tone tinged with slight confusion.
Yun Zhaozhao’s eyes sparkled with a hint of cunning liveliness as she brought out the excuse she had prepared long ago, “I want to know what you do in the palace every day, cousin.”
“Cousin, take me to the palace just once! Please?”
【Zhaozhao sounds like a little wife checking up on me…】
Pei Yan felt a surge of affection in his heart, but his handsome face remained unmoved. “Zhaozhao, this goes against the rules. If you want to know, I can tell you.”
He went to the palace every day—attended court, taught the young emperor, handled official duties, and returned home. Day after day, it was all the same. There was nothing he couldn’t share, and Pei Yan was more than willing to tell Yun Zhaozhao.
But just as he was about to speak, Yun Zhaozhao didn’t want to hear it.
“Never mind.” Yun Zhaozhao buried her head in disappointment, sighing pitifully, “I just wanted to spend a little more time with you, cousin.”
Pei Yan’s heart raced!
His Adam’s apple bobbed violently. 【Zhaozhao… wants to go to the palace… for me.】
Pei Yan could hardly control the look in his eyes as he gazed at Yun Zhaozhao—a mix of ice and fire, growing increasingly intense and sticky, fixed unblinkingly on her.
Yun Zhaozhao felt her legs go weak under his stare.
She wiped the sweat from her palm and continued playing pitiful, “Cousin, it’s my fault for not understanding the rules. I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll go back now.”
“Zhaozhao, wait!”
Pei Yan urgently grabbed Yun Zhaozhao’s small hand, almost losing his rationality as he indulged in making an exception, “Zhaozhao, you can disguise yourself as a page and accompany me to the palace.”
“Really?” Yun Zhaozhao was overjoyed, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling as she looked at Pei Yan.
As soon as Pei Yan nodded, she immediately cheered, lifting her skirt to head out, “Cousin, wait for me! I’ll go buy men’s clothes!”
“There’s no time…”
Pei Yan tightly held Yun Zhaozhao’s hand, refusing to let go. His eyes were deep and cold, sweeping over her entire body inch by inch with a hidden, obsessive fervor, filled with possessiveness.
His thin lips moved slightly, his voice like ice beads falling onto a jade plate, “Zhaozhao, you can wear mine.”
“Huh?” Yun Zhaozhao was stunned.
Pei Yan directly ordered Leng Zhu to fetch his old clothes from his youth.
The old clothes were quickly brought. Yun Zhaozhao held them in her arms and returned to her room, unable to resist secretly sniffing them. They carried a cold, frosty scent of ink—the very fragrance of her cousin!
Just from carrying them for a while, the scent had already clung to her.
Cool, elegant, yet overwhelmingly domineering!
Yun Zhaozhao imagined herself wearing them, and her cheeks instantly flushed with a delicate, rosy hue…
Elsewhere.
Pei Yan sat in his study, the book on the table untouched for a long time. He maintained a posture of lowering his head to sniff his fingers.
This hand of his had touched Zhaozhao.
Though he had only held her hand for a moment, the sweet fragrance of a maiden and the soft sensation lingered in Pei Yan’s heart.
It was as if a little cat’s paw was stirring his heart, leaving it restless.
Deep within his cold-lake-like eyes surged a desperate, unfulfilled longing—he wanted to kiss her!I want to perform the rites of Zhou with Zhaozhao!
The desire surged fiercely, yet Pei Yan sat motionless, merely sniffing his fingers, closing his eyes, his Adam’s apple rolling violently as he endured until veins bulged on his forehead and a thin layer of sweat broke out.
After a long while, the fragrance on his fingertips vanished.
Pei Yan returned to his cold, emotionless expression, but the faint redness in his eyes clearly betrayed a scorching, terrifying emotion.
He would save everything for Zhaozhao!
Not a drop could be wasted.
The next day, before dawn.
Pei Yan arrived at Yun Zhaozhao’s courtyard. “Zhaozhao, are you up?”
“Cousin, I’m up!”
Yun Zhaozhao hadn’t slept at all, too excited and agitated. She pushed open the door, ran out, and threw herself before Pei Yan.
Looking up, Yun Zhaozhao was stunned.
Pei Yan was dressed in his court attire. Beneath his official cap, his brows were icy, his dark eyes deep and unfathomable. The purple court robe was extraordinarily luxurious, a jade belt cinched his waist, his shoulders and back straight as a snow pine, impossibly handsome!
A lofty flower, cold and elegant as an immortal.
But those cold, desireless dark eyes melted like ice and snow the moment they saw Yun Zhaozhao, descending to the mortal realm.
Yun Zhaozhao was already dressed in Pei Yan’s old clothes.
A set of pale blue brocade robes with elegant bamboo patterns. Even though they were Pei Yan’s clothes from his youth, they were still loose and oversized on Yun Zhaozhao. She cinched her waist tightly with a silk sash, outlining a slender, alluring willow-like waist.
Her black hair was tied up with a green silk ribbon, fastened into a round coiled bun at the back of her head, revealing a clean little face with almond-shaped eyes, peach-blossom cheeks, and lips as red as rouge.
She looked nothing like a book boy—more like a celestial youth from a painting.
Pei Yan couldn’t tear his eyes away.
“Cousin, let’s hurry to the palace!” Yun Zhaozhao urged him eagerly, pulling him by the hand and dragging him outside.
Grand Tutor Pei, who was fastidious and never brought attendants, unprecedentedly brought a book boy to the palace for court!
Along the way, civil and military officials craned their necks, burning with curiosity and gossip!
Unfortunately, Grand Tutor Pei was too cold to approach.
And he domineeringly hid the person behind him, shielding them completely. Their necks grew tired from straining, yet they couldn’t catch a glimpse of what the book boy looked like.
Only Yan Qing saw through it but said nothing.
After entering the palace, Pei Yan first brought Yun Zhaozhao to the Grand Secretariat to settle her. As the Grand Tutor and Chief Grand Secretary, Pei Yan had a private room.
“Zhaozhao, I can’t bring you to court. Wait here, drink tea, eat snacks, and be good, alright?”
“Mhm, mhm! I’ll wait here for Cousin!”
Yun Zhaozhao’s voice was sweet and soft. Pei Yan’s lips curved slightly before he turned and left, closing the door securely.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk~”
Yan Qing leaned against the wall, wearing a teasing, mocking expression. “Grand Tutor Pei, hiding a beauty in your study—what kind of behavior is this!”
Pei Yan ignored him entirely, brushing past him without a glance.
Yan Qing had no choice but to chase after him. “I’m telling you, Grand Tutor Pei, this is against the rules! You have to bribe me!”
“Or silence you.” Pei Yan’s icy glare sent a shiver down Yan Qing’s spine.
Yan Qing clicked his tongue. “We’re on the same side! Grand Tutor Pei, I have to say, you’re too domineering and clingy. She’s not even married to you yet, and you’re already keeping her by your side. Afraid she’ll run away?”
“Nonsense!”
Pei Yan shot him a cold, piercing glance, sharp as a blade. Then, his pale lips curved slightly. “It’s Zhaozhao who clings to me.”
“Tsk—” Yan Qing felt a toothache.
He never expected that one day he’d be subjected to Pei the Iceberg showing off his affection!
At that moment, Pei Yan couldn’t have imagined that the moment he left, Yun Zhaozhao immediately slipped out.
Only System 009 saw it!It sensed something was wrong. […What are you doing?]
“Princess Chang is under house arrest. I’m here to gather intelligence on the enemy!”
[You actually… deceived Pei Yan!]