Сhарtеr 21: Grand Tutor Реi Has Nо Shame
Yun Zhаоzhао wаs indignаnt!
Hоw wаs shе tоo yоung?
Her cousin wаntеd to kiss hеr еvеrу dаy—shе соuld hear thаt just finе. What еlse couldn’t shе listen tо?
“Little monster, whоse sidе arе уou on?” Yun Zhаozhao аngrilу dеmаnded in her hеаrt, fоrсing System 009 tо takе a stand.
Sуstem 009 answеred without hеsitation, 【Yours.】
【I’m just аfrаid it’ll sсarе уou!】
【Pei Yаn isn’t a sаint оr a gentlеman. When hе gets twistеd, уоu won’t bе able tо handle it… If уоu hаdn’t insisted…】
System 009 trailed off, then sighed hеlрlessly. 【I promisе уou, I won’t interfеrе again in the future.】
Yun Zhaozhao was full of questions. The little monster always spoke in half-sentences.
What had she insisted on?
How twisted could her cousin get?
Yun Zhaozhao cupped her little face and gazed out the carriage window at Grand Tutor Pei, the lofty, unattainable flower riding tall on his handsome steed, looking utterly captivating.
Her engagement to her cousin was actually something she had asked for herself.
Yun Zhaozhao would always remember that year when spring was at its most beautiful. A young nobleman from the capital came riding through the falling blossoms, dressed in white and as handsome as a celestial being. He completely outshone all the young masters and gentlemen of Jiangnan!
Her parents had asked her, “Do you want to be engaged to your cousin?”
She had nodded her head like a little chick pecking at rice—Yes! She did!
There was no other reason—her cousin was simply too handsome!
Too good-looking!
Yun Zhaozhao propped her chin in her hand, her apricot eyes gazing dreamily at Pei Yan’s back. Even now, she still thought her cousin was the most handsome! The best-looking!
What did it matter if he wasn’t a saint or a gentleman?
She was marrying her cousin!
Not a saint or a gentleman.
Just then, the carriage passed by and stopped in front of a goldsmith’s shop.
Pei Yan leaned down from his horse and instructed Leng Zhu, “Go order a…”
Yun Zhaozhao strained her ears but couldn’t make out a single word of the rest.
But she could cheat by reading minds!
【A delicate, luxurious, beautiful gold chain…】
【With a little gold bell…】
【That way, I’ll always know where Zhaozhao is.】
???
Yun Zhaozhao widened her apricot eyes. A gold chain? A gold chain with a bell?
【See? If you run around, Pei Yan will lock you up.】
System 009 sounded a bit gleeful. 【Scared now?】
Yun Zhaozhao gritted her teeth and stuck her head right out the carriage window. “Cousin! Come here!”
Pei Yan immediately tugged on the reins, turned his horse around, and rode back to the carriage window.
He looked down quietly at Yun Zhaozhao.
“Cousin, what did you tell Leng Zhu to buy?” Yun Zhaozhao demanded an explanation, but Pei Yan remained calm and unruffled, showing no sign of panic or haste.
He calmly glanced toward the goldsmith’s shop.
Leng Zhu had already come out, holding a gold-inlaid brocade box. At Pei Yan’s signal, he handed the box to Yun Zhaozhao.
Suspicious, Yun Zhaozhao took it and opened it. Inside was a begonia flower hair ornament made of gold inlaid with gemstones.
It was described as a “piece” because it was truly palm-sized—a begonia flower shape crafted from solid gold, adorned with rubies, amethysts, and sapphires.
Very imposing! Luxurious and magnificent!
Leng Zhu wondered to himself: 【The master said to buy the most expensive item in the shop. I hope I didn’t get it wrong?】
“Zhaozhao, do you like it?” Pei Yan asked.
Yun Zhaozhao puffed out her tender, pink cheeks, her apricot eyes burning as she stared at Pei Yan. “Cousin, is this all you bought?”
“Yes.”
【Can’t let Zhaozhao know about the gold chain…】
【She’d run away… She’s not allowed to go anywhere except by his side…】
Pei Yan thought he had hidden his inner darkness, domineering nature, and obsessive possessiveness perfectly well.Little did they know, Yun Zhaozhao heard everything!
Yun Zhaozhao wasn’t angry. Instead, she smiled sweetly, her almond-shaped eyes curving into crescents. With a bright and charming smile, she leaned against the window and beckoned to Pei Yan with a finger: “Cousin, lower your head and come closer.”
Pei Yan was puzzled.
Pei Yan obediently leaned down from his horse, his handsome, jade-carved face drawing close to Yun Zhaozhao.
“Cousin, don’t move!”
Yun Zhaozhao picked up the gold-inlaid gemstone crabapple hair ornament, leaned out of the carriage window, and placed it on Pei Yan’s hat.
“Zhaozhao, be careful!” Pei Yan’s eyes were only on Yun Zhaozhao, afraid she might fall.
Only after Yun Zhaozhao withdrew did he belatedly feel the heavy weight on his head. Pei Yan’s gaze turned blank for a moment, and he instinctively reached out… touching the gold-inlaid gemstone crabapple hair ornament.
[Huh?]
“Cousin, I think it looks better on you!”
Yun Zhaozhao smiled sweetly and charmingly, her tone domineering: “I put it on you myself, so you’re not allowed to take it off! If you do, I won’t talk to you anymore!”
Pei Yan withdrew his hand and remained silent for a moment. “Alright.”
“My lord!” Leng Zhu grew anxious.
His lord was already a prominent figure in the capital. Every time he went out, the streets and alleys were packed with people.
Though they dared not approach, everyone was watching!
With such a large gold-inlaid gemstone crabapple hair ornament on his head, his lord would be far too conspicuous!
Even though Pei Yan was handsome and looked good wearing it, riding through the bustling streets like this would surely make him famous! By tomorrow, the whole capital would be talking about it—Grand Tutor Pei wearing a flower!
[My lord, have you no shame?]
Pei Yan didn’t care.
[Zhaozhao put it on me. Taking it off would make her angry.]
Pei Yan, with the gold-inlaid gemstone crabapple hair ornament on his head, ignored the crowd’s shock and whispers. “Let’s go home.”
Yun Zhaozhao sat back in the carriage, unable to hold back her giggles.
“Cousin still wants to lock me up? Hmph, I’m not afraid!”
Yun Zhaozhao waved her fist. “Now that I’m incredibly strong, I’ll snap his golden chains! Melt them down! Then forge a big golden flower and put it on his head!”
System 009 hesitated to speak—You’re taking advantage of Pei Yan’s indulgence to act recklessly! You’re fearless because you have his backing!
Sooner or later, you’ll push him too far, and even with your immense strength, you won’t be able to escape.
The carriage moved away.
A man and a woman emerged from an alley: “Brother, did you see that? Yun Zhaozhao dared to publicly humiliate our eldest brother! If she becomes our sister-in-law, will we ever have a chance to rise?”
Pei Yuzhen touched her hair bun again, vividly recalling the fear when Yun Zhaozhao grabbed her hair and pushed her head into a water vat.
Her eyes were filled with venomous resentment. “Brother, we can’t let Yun Zhaozhao off!”
The man beside her appeared gentle and refined, like a noble gentleman.
He was the illegitimate son—Pei Yu Lang.
Pei Yu Lang saw it clearly: Yun Zhaozhao and Pei Yan were clearly a case of one willing to hit and the other willing to be hit!
Pei Yu Lang found it particularly grating!
He glanced at his sister, fully aware of her petty schemes. Pei Yu Lang curled his lips into a gentle, gentlemanly smile, but his words were selfish, malicious, and chilling.
He said, “Don’t worry. For the sake of our mother becoming the Duchess, I will definitely get rid of Yun Zhaozhao! Leave her to me. Within three days, Yun Zhaozhao will become the infamous wanton woman of the capital.”
“Brother, be careful! Yun Zhaozhao is incredibly strong! She’s practically not like a woman at all!”
Pei Yu Lang paid no heed to Pei Yuzhen’s warning. In his heart, he sneered disdainfully. Incredibly strong?
How strong could she possibly be?He was a young and strong man, easily able to grasp Yun Zhaozhao with one hand, like handling a fragile and pitiful little rabbit, squeezing and kneading her at will!
Pei Yuzhen felt a bit uneasy—would her brother end up failing just like she did?