Сhарter 3 Adоrаblе… Wаnt tо Kiss Her
【Zhаоzhao’s littlе facе is sо rеd… I wоndеr if it wоuld tastе swееt аnd juicy if I tоok a bite?】
“Cоusin!” Yun Zhаozhао саllеd out аnхiоusly agаin, hеr faсe flushed crimsоn.
Hеr supposеdly аscеtiс and alоof Grand Tutоr соusin, thе epitоmе оf sаintliness, had сomрletelу shatterеd his image bеfore her, lеаving nоt a singlе trаce intaсt.
She wаs nо longer wоrried that hеr cоusin might rеfusе to mаrry her.
Instеad, she wаs а littlе afraid that he would marry her…
“I hеаrd you.” Pei Yаn’s еyes werе аs calm and expressionless as ice-cold jade. He walked over to Yun Zhaozhao, a faint scent of frost, snow, ink, and sandalwood silently enveloping her.
His voice remained as cold and distant as ever, like he was interrogating someone: “Where?”
“Yan’er, step back!”
Madam Yun glared unhappily at her son, “Don’t you freeze Zhaozhao.”
【Is Zhaozhao cold?】
Pei Yan’s gaze swept over her inch by inch, icy and profound, thinking to himself, 【Her face is flushed like this, adorable.】
“Cousin, sit down quickly!”
Yun Zhaozhao, feeling both shy and annoyed, mustered her courage and began ordering Pei Yan around.
The Grand Tutor, who wielded immense power in the imperial court, actually obeyed and sat down as Yun Zhaozhao directed. This scene left Madam Yun grinning from ear to ear, her anger over the stolen jewelry dissipating considerably.
“Aunt, it was her who stole it!”
Yun Zhaozhao, her face still flushed with embarrassment, pointed firmly with bright almond-shaped eyes at one of the people kneeling on the ground.
Granny Wang was shocked and horrified. Slapping her thigh, she wailed and cried out her innocence: “Madam, this old servant has been wronged to death! I am your dowry maid, with so many years of shared affection—how could I possibly steal anything?”
“Young Mistress, I am also a servant from your maternal family home, how could you! You’ve truly broken this old servant’s heart—”
Granny Wang wailed and cried to the heavens, the noise making everyone’s ears ring.
Pei Yan’s gaze swept over her, his voice icy: “Noisy.”
Granny Wang immediately fell silent like an old hen whose neck had been wrung, not daring to wail or cry out again.
But with snot and tears streaming down her face, she looked as if she had suffered a grievous injustice!
Madam Yun was both shocked and doubtful, holding Yun Zhaozhao’s small hand, “Zhaozhao, it’s not that Aunt doesn’t believe you. But Granny Wang has always been well-behaved all these years, how could it be her?”
“Madam, it absolutely wasn’t this servant!”
The maid Liu Qing, who had been holding back, burst into tears upon hearing this, swearing with a mix of grievance and defiance: “If I stole it, may my entire family die a horrible death!”
The oath was deafening, startling everyone.
Granny Wang inwardly wished she could tear Liu Qing’s mouth apart!
【You wretch! Don’t think your oath will help you, I’ve been with Madam the longest! Our bond is the deepest!】
【The stolen goods are hidden… Even if a great immortal came, they wouldn’t find them!】
Yun Zhaozhao let out a soft, deliberate hum!
Her voice was pleasant, carrying a sweet and soft, somewhat spoiled tone. It didn’t sound particularly imposing, but when Granny Wang met Yun Zhaozhao’s eyes, she felt a spine-chilling fear, as if she had been seen through completely.
“Aunt, send someone to the northern latrine!” Yun Zhaozhao’s words struck right at Granny Wang’s heart, “There’s a wine jar inside. All the jewelry and treasures you lost are in there!”
“What? The… the latrine?” Madam Yun was stunned, unable to believe it.
Granny Wang was terrified out of her wits, breaking out in a cold sweat all over—how was this possible?
“Leng Zhu.”
With just one word from Pei Yan, Leng Zhu immediately took people to the northern latrine… After some effort, they truly found a sealed wine jar stained with feces and urine.
As soon as it was brought into the room, the smell assaulted everyone’s senses!
“Ugh! Take it out quickly!” Madam Yun was utterly disgusted.Yun Zhaozhao also tightly covered her mouth and nose, shouting, “Take it outside, rinse it with water, then open it!”
Leng Zhu looked at Pei Yan, and only after receiving a nod from him did he follow the instructions step by step.
After rinsing the wine jar, he smashed a large hole in it right in the courtyard. Inside, gold bracelets, jade, emeralds, and other jewels glittered brilliantly in the twilight, stunning everyone speechless!
The young mistress is truly miraculous!
“Madam! It wasn’t me! It was her! She stole it!” Granny Wang was so frightened she lost her senses, stubbornly trying to pin the blame on Liu Qing.
Liu Qing glared at her with red eyes, straightening her back: “The young mistress said you’re the thief!”
“Young mistress, I’ve been wronged! If you slander me like this, this old servant has no choice but to die to prove my innocence!”
“Stop trying to manipulate me!”
Yun Zhaozhao snorted, lifting her chin triumphantly. Granny Wang’s inner thoughts had long been exposed!
“Granny Wang, your son is a gambler. He squandered all your savings and still owes the gambling den a thousand taels! If he can’t repay it this month, they’ll chop off his hands, feet, and drown him! You stole Auntie’s jewelry to get money to save him!”
Granny Wang collapsed on the spot.
She lay on the ground, wailing and crying: “This old servant had no choice! I only have this one son, I can’t just watch him die, wuwuwu!”
“You’re truly foolish!” Madam Yun was utterly disappointed.
“Leng Zhu, send her to the authorities.”
“No! Please spare me, Master! Master, I watched you grow up! Please save me, save my son!” Granny Wang was dragged away, sobbing and wailing.
From beginning to end, Pei Yan remained detached and emotionless, his voice icy cold.
Everyone in the capital praised him as an immortal descended to earth, untainted by worldly dust, fair and impartial without selfish motives. On his deathbed, the late emperor entrusted the crown prince to him for guidance and education with great confidence.
And indeed, he was just that—unmoved by Granny Wang’s wrongdoing, his inner thoughts utterly indifferent.
Except!
His cold, icy gaze fell on Yun Zhaozhao’s face, stirring ripples in his heart.
Pei Yan raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. 【Why did Zhaozhao steal glances at me today?】
【How did she find out…】
“Auntie, Cousin! I just happened to see Granny Wang lurking suspiciously around the latrine,” Yun Zhaozhao cleverly and slyly preempted Pei Yan’s questions with a single sentence.
Otherwise, if she fell into Grand Tutor Pei’s hands, she’d be skinned alive, with no secrets left!
“Zhaozhao, you’re truly Auntie’s lucky star!”
Madam Yun smiled gently, her eyes filled with immense affection and tenderness for Yun Zhaozhao: “No matter how much you guard against outsiders, it’s hard to guard against thieves within the household! If not for you, Auntie wouldn’t know how long I’d have remained in the dark!”
“These jewels are dirty now, take them out and sell them! The money from the sale…”
Madam Yun calculated happily in her heart. 【Yan’er is so busy with official duties, he hasn’t spent proper time with Zhaozhao. This won’t do! They’re going to be husband and wife, sharing the same bed!】
Yun Zhaozhao was horrified!
“Auntie, I don’t…”
But Madam Yun directly said to Pei Yan: “Yan’er, you have a day off tomorrow. Accompany Zhaozhao out for a stroll, buy her some hairpins and jewelry.”
Pei Yan agreed, his voice cool, his gaze icy as he looked at her: “Alright.”
Yun Zhaozhao didn’t want to.
“Cousin, you rarely have a day off. You should rest at home.”
“Cousin, be obedient.”
His tone and attitude were as cold as an ice-carved saint, but his inner thoughts were fervent and burning: 【Though I’m in mourning and cannot be intimate… being closer to Zhaozhao is still good.】
A little figure inside Yun Zhaozhao screamed: Cousin, stop thinking like that! I’m a fierce woman now, I’ll beat you up!【Her face is red again… Is Zhaozhao sick? Should I call the imperial physician to the mansion for a check?】
Yun Zhaozhao glared at him!
Pei Yan’s expression was icy, but his heart was full of affection. 【Like a little kitten, so cute… I want to kiss her.】
“Auntie, this room stinks! I’m not eating anymore, I’m going back!” Yun Zhaozhao fled in a panic.
She didn’t want to marry her cousin anymore!!!
Once she found a chance to beat Princess Chang senseless with a sack, she would pack up and run back to Jiangnan!
Pei Yan watched her retreating figure with a cold, deep gaze. 【Zhaozhao ran away again, I really want to lock her up…】
“Yan’er, what are you looking at?”
Madam Yun was exasperated. “She ran away, go after her!”