Chaрtеr 23: Веgging Zhаozhao, Кiss Мe
“Cоusin, Princеss Сhаng bеаt а eunuсh tо dеаth!”
“She evеn choppеd оff the hаnds оf а раlaсе mаid who had sеrvеd her сlosely fоr ten whоle yeаrs! All bеcаusе the maid рulled out a singlе strаnd оf hеr hair while соmbing it!”
Yun Zhаоzhao grеw furious just thinking аbout it. Prinсess Chаng was cruеl and mercilеss, viсiоus as а sсorpion—it wаs simplу аppаlling!
In the storуboоk, hеr еnding was bеing strippеd of her сlоthеs and forced to jump off a сliff—but thinking аbout it, that was prоbаbly just a whim of Рrinсess Chang, something decided with a single word.
She wouldn’t end up tragically like in the storybook.
Nor would she sit idly by and wait for disaster!
Yun Zhaozhao’s delicate face puffed up with anger, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling like stars as she looked at Pei Yan expectantly: “Cousin, after Princess Chang’s one-month confinement ends, can you report her again?”
“Alright.” Pei Yan agreed without hesitation.
Yun Zhaozhao widened her almond-shaped eyes in surprise: “Cousin, aren’t you going to think about it?”
“If Zhaozhao wants it, I’ll do it.”
Pei Yan didn’t care about others; in his eyes and heart, there was only Yun Zhaozhao.
[Reporting Princess Chang can make Zhaozhao happy, so why not do it?]
[Speaking of which…]
Pei Yan remembered something.
Since Yun Zhaozhao had come to him on her own, Pei Yan wasn’t about to miss the opportunity. His pale, thin lips moved slightly: “Princess Chang is confined and can’t interfere with our marriage.”
“Zhaozhao, you promised a reward.”
“I listened to you. What’s the reward?”
Yun Zhaozhao froze.
If you want the ox to work, you have to feed it grass!
But Cousin wasn’t an ox, and he didn’t eat grass. He only wanted…
Yun Zhaozhao covered her flushed face. “Cousin, I’ll give you the reward later, okay?”
“No, is Zhaozhao trying to trick me?”
“I’m not tricking you!” Yun Zhaozhao grew anxious. “I just don’t know what reward to give?”
Yun Zhaozhao didn’t realize she had already fallen into the hunter’s trap.
Pei Yan’s deep, icy-lake-like eyes gazed intently at her red lips, his stare focused and persistent, filled with longing.
“No way!”
Yun Zhaozhao’s cheeks flushed red and hot with embarrassment. “Before we’re married, Cousin isn’t allowed to kiss me!”
“Alright.” Pei Yan obediently agreed.
Pei Yan was cunning. “Zhaozhao, can you kiss me?”
???
Yun Zhaozhao stared blankly and confusedly at Pei Yan. This was something she had never imagined!
“The rules are meant to restrain men. Before marriage, I won’t offend or bully Zhaozhao.”
Pei Yan’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently, his dark, obscure eyes fixed on Yun Zhaozhao as he whispered temptingly: “Zhaozhao, I want my reward.”
“Begging Zhaozhao, kiss me.”
The renowned Grand Tutor Pei looked utterly humble.
With a face that seemed ascetic and saintly, his heart was filled with damp heat, scalding passion, and a desire-filled obsession.
Yun Zhaozhao’s heart raced wildly!
Her mind felt dizzy, and she couldn’t help but open her mouth: “Cousin, close your eyes.”
Pei Yan obediently closed his eyes.
Without seeing the possessiveness hidden deep in his eyes, his face appeared especially cold and handsome, his brows like ink peaks, his nose bridge high and straight, his lips extremely pale.
[Zhaozhao… where will she kiss?]
Pei Yan’s heart also raced, filled with anxious longing. [Zhaozhao… will she think I’m too cold?]
“Cousin, don’t move.”
Yun Zhaozhao tried hard to ignore Pei Yan’s inner thoughts. She stood while Pei Yan sat, and she slowly leaned in…
Want to kiss on the lips? Dream on!
Where to kiss was up to her! Suppressing her wildly thumping heart, Yun Zhaozhao quickly kissed Pei Yan on the forehead and then ran off!Pei Yan opened his eyes, but Yun Zhaozhao had already run off like a rabbit, disappearing without a trace.
He raised his hand and touched the spot where she had kissed him.
Zhaozhao’s lips were just as soft as he had imagined.
Not enough! Far from enough!
It did nothing to quench his thirst!
Pei Yan fell into deep thought—what should he do to coax Zhaozhao into kissing him more?
……
The three-day deadline had arrived!
Pei Yuzhu had finally gathered all the items and packed them into a large rosewood chest, sending servants from the Duke’s estate to deliver them to the Grand Tutor’s Manor.
She did not come herself, nor did she have the face to.
“Zhaozhao, everything is here! All of it was used or worn by Pei Yuzhu. What do you plan to do with it?” Xiao Shuyue had also come today.
She was here to help Yun Zhaozhao. If Pei Yuzhu hadn’t returned the items, she would have immediately spread the word among the noble ladies’ circles, making Pei Yuzhu infamous!
Yun Zhaozhao couldn’t even be bothered to take a closer look.
She simply didn’t want her sincerity to be wasted on someone unworthy!
Now that the items were returned, she wouldn’t keep them to disgust herself either: “Sell them secondhand and donate the silver to the orphanage outside the city.”
“Zhaozhao, you truly have a heart of compassion!”
Xiao Shuyue leaned in affectionately, linking arms with her, her smile dazzling and her tone bold: “Good! I’ll donate five hundred taels with you!”
“Zhaozhao, let me treat you to afternoon tea! The pastries at Zhendianfang are unmatched in the capital! You must have never tried them!”
Xiao Shuyue wore a proud, boastful expression.
But Yun Zhaozhao already knew she was sharp-tongued yet kind-hearted, not actually showing off.
Oh! And Xiao Shuyue also had a sweet tooth!
She had nearly lost her life because of it.
Yun Zhaozhao’s eyes curved into crescents as she happily agreed: “Alright!”
However, when leaving, Yun Zhaozhao pulled Xiao Shuyue toward the back door, explaining proactively: “My cousin will be home soon. Taking the back door avoids running into him.”
“Oh! I see, Zhaozhao, you’re also afraid of Grand Tutor Pei!”
Xiao Shuyue couldn’t help but shiver at the thought of Pei Yan: “Grand Tutor Pei is terrifyingly cold! If it weren’t for your engagement, Zhaozhao, I’d really wish you could be my sister-in-law.”
The last sentence, Xiao Shuyue muttered very softly.
Yun Zhaozhao didn’t catch it clearly either.
She lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, her mind filled with thoughts of Pei Yan—ever since she had taken the initiative to kiss him, she had been too shy to face him.
Zhendianfang.
Xiao Shuyue treated her to a table full of Zhendianfang’s signature pastries! By the time the two of them had eaten until their stomachs were round, they had only finished a quarter of them.
“Pack them up!” Xiao Shuyue waved her hand grandly. “Zhaozhao, take them back and enjoy them slowly!”
Yun Zhaozhao let out a small burp and nodded in agreement.
Who would have thought!
When the maid Yu Shi went to settle the bill, she discovered someone had already paid for them in advance.
“Who paid? My brother?” Xiao Shuyue asked, her face full of surprise and curiosity.
The maid Yu Shi shook her head, saying she didn’t know, only that the waiter had mentioned it was a man who paid.
“Second Miss Xiao, it was I who paid the bill. Please forgive my presumption.” As the words fell, a man walked into the room.
He appeared to be around twenty, smiling gently, dressed in blue robes like a refined gentleman, warm and polished as jade.
But as soon as Xiao Shuyue saw him, she frowned, her tone sharp: “The Duke’s illegitimate son, what are you doing here? Who asked you to pay? Mind your own business!”
Pei Yu Lang’s smile stiffened.
[Wretched woman!]
[If it weren’t for the fact that you’re the second daughter of the Loyal and Brave Marquis Estate, I…]
Pei Yu Lang clenched his fist secretly, still wearing a gentle smile on his face: “Second Miss Xiao, I am here to see my sister-in-law.”
Pei Yu Lang stared directly at Yun Zhaozhao, smiling as he urged her to leave: “I have private matters to discuss with my sister-in-law. Could Second Miss Xiao please leave first?”Xiao Shuyue looked suspiciously at Yun Zhaozhao.
Yun Zhaozhao was drinking tea. Her almond-shaped eyes coolly glanced at Pei Yu Lang—his inner voice was venomous and grating, making her ears ache!
The Duke’s estate was endlessly troublesome!
Yun Zhaozhao set down her teacup and flexed her knuckles. “Xiao Shuyue, you may leave first.”