In the study.
Pei Yan suddenly opened his eyes.
As he looked around the room, he recognized it as the study he used whenever he stayed at the General’s Manor.
He had his own residence now. This time, he had only stayed overnight at the manor because he had drunk too much.
His head throbbed slightly from the aftereffects of alcohol.
There was also a strange sensation throughout his body.
He couldn’t describe it.
It was something he had never experienced before.
Pei Yan rarely drank. It was only because it was General Mei’s death anniversary that he had indulged in a few extra cups.
Pressing a hand to his temple, he sat up.
The quilt slid down, exposing his powerful upper body.
Even at rest, his bronze-colored muscles were clearly defined. Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and sharp lines concealed immense strength.
Having followed General Mei since childhood and entered the battlefield in his early teens, he had suffered countless injuries.
Several old scars remained on his body.
Though fierce-looking, they were also symbols of his honor.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a few faint scratch marks on his chest.
They neither hurt nor itched, so he paid them little attention.
The next moment, however, he spotted an earring lying on the bed.
At a glance, it was clearly a woman’s accessory.
A flicker of surprise crossed Pei Yan’s face.
His long, well-defined fingers reached out and picked up the small white jade earring.
His hawk-like eyes narrowed.
It was identical to the earrings Mei Wanying wore.
Pei Yan’s breathing grew heavier.
He immediately got out of bed and dressed.
The moment he stepped forward and entered the outer room, he froze.
It had been less than an hour since Mei Wanying had left.
The room was still shrouded in darkness, but that posed no obstacle to him.
The desk was in complete disarray.
Books lay scattered across the floor.
The sheets of paper spread across the desk were wrinkled and stained with what appeared to be blood and other suspicious marks.
A porcelain bowl had been smashed near the corner.
Everything was a mess.
Including the bed…
The veins at Pei Yan’s temple throbbed violently.
Something seemed on the verge of breaking through his carefully controlled composure.
Clutching the earring tightly, he strode out with a grim expression.
He wanted to leave immediately.
Yet if he did not get answers, the discomfort gnawing at him would only worsen.
Grinding his teeth, he muttered inwardly.
Mei Wanying…
She truly wasn’t obedient at all.
His footsteps shifted direction.
Instead of leaving, he headed toward the brightly lit courtyard.
Before reaching Mei Wanying’s residence, he encountered her personal maid.
The moment Dingxiang saw Pei Yan, she looked like a mouse spotting a cat.
Terrified.
In the past, she had believed he was her young mistress’s childhood fiancé.
Yet he always maintained an aloof attitude and treated her mistress neither warmly nor coldly.
She had often criticized him behind his back for not knowing how lucky he was.
She had even called him an ungrateful wolf.
So what if he was handsome?
So what if he was capable?
What did he have to be proud of?
Her young mistress was the greatest beauty in the capital.
Who would have thought that the childhood fiancé would suddenly become the Emperor’s only biological son?
His status was now beyond compare.
Dingxiang hurriedly bowed.
Certain that Pei Yan would ignore her, she lowered her head and prepared to leave.
“What are you doing?”
His cool voice entered her ears.
Goosebumps instantly rose across her skin.
Her back turned cold.
Too afraid to meet his gaze, she stammered,
“Miss caught a chill and has stomach pain. She ordered me to fetch some medicine.”
“Stomach pain?”
Dingxiang lowered her head even further.
“When Miss has her monthly cycle, she experiences abdominal pain.”
“Give it to me.”
Perhaps it was her imagination, but his voice no longer sounded quite so tense.
Dingxiang quickly glanced at him.
Assuming he wanted the prescription, she tremblingly handed it over.
Pei Yan took the paper and left immediately.
Soon, he disappeared from sight.
Dingxiang had no idea whether she should follow him or return to the courtyard.
After some thought, she decided to wait where she was.
With the prescription in hand, Pei Yan sought out a physician.
“She has abdominal pain. Is this prescription appropriate?”
The physician examined it.
This was not a prescription for abdominal pain.
It was a contraceptive decoction.
If administered without proper understanding, it could harm the body.
“Describe the pain,” the physician asked.
The tips of Pei Yan’s ears reddened slightly.
Though his expression remained calm, he answered,
“Menstrual pain.”
The physician nodded knowingly.
“This prescription needs adjustment. Several of these ingredients cannot be taken. They can damage a woman’s health and, in severe cases, affect fertility.”
He prepared a proper prescription and handed the medicine to Pei Yan.
Pei Yan took it and left.
This time, there was no hesitation in his steps.
His destination was clear.
Mei Wanying’s courtyard.
He intended to see exactly what kind of trouble she was causing this time.
…
Mei Wanying reclined against a beauty couch while a maid stood beside her, drying her long hair.
A servant entered to announce,
“Miss, His Highness has arrived.”
His Highness…
The title felt strangely unfamiliar.
After Pei Yan returned to the imperial family, he had been granted the title Prince Chen and given his own residence.
The character Chen in his title alone was enough to reveal the Emperor’s favor toward him.
In the past, if Pei Yan had taken the initiative to visit her, Mei Wanying would have been overjoyed.
She would have dressed in her finest clothes and arranged her most beautiful hairstyle before meeting him.
She would parade herself before him, hoping her beauty might win his heart.
Thinking back on those actions now made her feel embarrassed.
Pei Yan did not love her.
Whether she was beautiful or ugly meant nothing to him.
A faint frown appeared between Mei Wanying’s delicate brows.
She remained where she was.
“It’s late. It’s inconvenient to receive guests. Tell His Highness to return.”
Her voice was gentle.
Yet Pei Yan’s hearing was excellent.
He heard every word clearly.
Standing outside with his hands clasped behind his back, his fingers absentmindedly rubbed the jade pendant at his waist.
Complex emotions churned within his deep eyes.
A moment later, he let out a cold laugh and strode inside.
Mei Wanying had not wanted to see him.
His sudden appearance caught her completely off guard.
She was already in a foul mood.
Now an inexplicable anger ignited within her.
She had already given up.
She would not cling to him anymore.
She would not love him anymore.
Then why had he come to provoke her again?
“Get out!”
For the first time, the innocent and delicate beauty bared her claws at Pei Yan.
Her tone was impatient.
She turned her head away, refusing to look at him.
Only her exquisite profile remained visible.
As well as her long, slender neck, fragile as a swan’s.
Pei Yan’s gaze darkened.
With a cold smile, he asked,
“Feeling guilty?”
Beneath the calm words lurked unmistakable gritted teeth.
Mei Wanying was guilty.
But she could not show it.
That incident had to remain buried forever.
Pei Yan could never learn the truth.
Otherwise, she would end up walking the same path as in her previous life.
At last, Mei Wanying turned her gaze toward him.
He was tall and imposing.
His features were deep and striking, his nose straight, his lips perfectly shaped.
Every part of him looked as though it had been carved by a master craftsman.
There was not a single flaw.
His naturally distant temperament carried an air of nobility and detachment.
Every young lady in the capital wanted to marry Pei Yan.
Before today, Mei Wanying had wanted the same.
She had dreamed of it endlessly.
“Why should I feel guilty?” she asked.
There was no emotion in her beautiful eyes.
Even her tone was indifferent.
She truly was different now.
For some reason, Pei Yan felt increasingly irritated.
Without further circling around the issue, he produced the earring.
“Yours?”
Though phrased as a question, his tone left no room for doubt.
Mei Wanying’s breathing faltered.
In her panic earlier, combined with her inability to see clearly, she had not realized she had left something behind.
She dismissed the maid drying her hair.
Then she rose and walked slowly toward Pei Yan.
Taking the white jade earring from his hand, her fingertips brushed against his calloused palm.
The touch lasted only an instant.
Pei Yan’s fingers curled into a fist.
Standing with his hands behind his back once more, he asked,
“Do you have nothing to say?”
“Nothing.”
Her indifferent response made his teeth itch with frustration.
She had never been like this before.
Taking a step forward, his tall figure cast an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Then Mei Wanying heard him ask:
“What did you do to me, Mei Wanying?”
“Explain it clearly.”