A figure swept past everyone’s eyes before they could clearly see who it was. Old Marquis Pei was already hoisted up and slammed heavily onto the ground.
“Kowtow!” Zhang Jiulu pressed Old Marquis Pei’s head against the white marble floor tiles, forcing him to knock his forehead.
Thud, thud, thud…
Three resounding kowtows!
Old Marquis Pei was dazed from the impact, his forehead bruised and bleeding.
“You… you…” He clutched his head, slumped on the ground, wailing, “How dare you treat me like this!”
“Yan’er…” Princess Chang was also startled by Pei Yan’s sudden outburst of anger, but before she could even ask, Pei Yan stood up first.
Still in his court robes, he descended the steps with an imposing aura, his heavy footsteps bringing him before Old Marquis Pei. He looked down at the old man from above.
“What kind of thing are you? How dare you call me by my name directly! This title of yours was given to you by me. Back then, I could let you have it, and now I can take it back. Who are you to shout and scream in front of me?” He lifted the tip of his foot and lightly tapped Old Marquis Pei’s chest twice. “Asking me for someone? Are you worthy?”
Old Marquis Pei was nearly seventy. When had he ever suffered such humiliation? He tilted his head back, panting heavily, and suddenly his eyes rolled back as he fainted dead away.
“Throw him out,” Pei Yan ordered coldly.
Zhang Jiulu showed no mercy, grabbing the old marquis by the collar and dragging him out.
Princess Chang rubbed her temples and whispered, “Yan’er, this is too reckless. He’s old—you should at least give him some face.”
“Do I need to give face to such an old fool?” Pei Yan frowned and said indifferently, “Everything he touched just now, take it out and burn it. It’s tainted.”
The maidservants dared not hesitate, immediately stepping forward to remove Old Marquis Pei’s low table and cushion.
In the hall, there were also several advisors and noblewomen who had long accompanied Princess Chang for the meal. Seeing Pei Yan kick Old Marquis Pei was a first for them, and they now held their breath, staring at Pei Yan in stunned silence.
Pei Yan hadn’t often taken matters into his own hands these past two years. First, because people generally didn’t dare provoke him and would tuck their tails between their legs at the sight of him. Second, because two years ago, he had been afflicted with Sinking Poison, and the physician advised him to cultivate his health and temper, avoiding anger. The fact that Old Marquis Pei left alive today was precisely because Pei Yan was trying to cultivate his temper. Otherwise, the old marquis would have entered as one and left as two halves!
Su He was also stunned. She suddenly remembered Pei Yan saying he would make Old Marquis Pei kowtow to her. At the time, she thought it was just talk, but she never expected he would actually make the old fool kowtow.
Good heavens, this version of Pei Yan—she dared not provoke him.
“What are you spacing out for? Come and serve me.” Pei Yan turned his face toward Su He. Seeing her wide, reddened eyes staring at him like a little fool, he felt a surge of irritation.
Everyone’s gaze shifted to Su He. Today, Pei Yan had kicked Old Marquis Pei for her sake. This girl really had caught Pei Yan’s attention!
A flicker of displeasure passed through Princess Chang’s eyes, but she understood her son’s temperament. It was best not to interfere with someone he was currently interested in. A woman like Su He was no different from an object—it wouldn’t be long before he grew tired of her.
“Still not coming over?” Pei Yan sat down and, seeing Su He still unmoving, tapped the table impatiently.
Su He shuddered and hurried over to Pei Yan.
There was a soft cushion beside his legs. She knelt on it instinctively, righted the wine jug he had tossed aside, and poured him a cup of wine.
The dishes on the table were truly exquisite, so much so that she couldn’t even name them. That braised pork, with its perfect layers of fat and lean meat, had a glistening, crystal-like appearance to the fatty parts, its aroma making her mouth water uncontrollably.
There was also a plate of roasted goose, its plump legs seeming to hook her gaze, making it impossible for her to look away.
“Open your mouth.” Pei Yan picked up a piece of braised pork with his chopsticks and brought it to her lips.
“Can I eat it?” Su He pursed her lips, raising her flushed little face to look at him. He had previously said she couldn’t eat it, that her stomach couldn’t handle it, so why was he letting her have it now?
“One piece of meat, one bowl of medicine.” Pei Yan fed the meat into her mouth.
One bowl of medicine was fine—this meat smelled too delicious.
Su He bit into the meat, immediately closing her eyes in bliss from the rich flavor.
Watching her look so utterly satisfied, Pei Yan couldn’t help but slip his hand beneath the low table and pinch her chest.
“Don’t just eat by yourself.”
“Yes, my lord.” Su He winced from the pain in her chest, hunching her back as she carefully picked up a piece of braised pork with her chopsticks and fed it to Pei Yan.
The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Princess Chang tossed her chopsticks aside in annoyance, stood up, and left. “Take your time eating. I’ve had my fill.”
Everyone quickly rose to bow and see Princess Chang out.
As Baozhu left, she shot Su He a hateful glare. This clueless little wretch hadn’t even bowed to Princess Chang!
Su He felt a chill run down her spine under Baozhu’s stare and quickly moved closer to Pei Yan’s side.
“Scared?” Pei Yan lowered his gaze to look at her, his voice soft.
Su He nodded. It had suddenly occurred to her that ever since entering the hall, she had been too focused on looking at the old marquis and hadn’t bowed to Princess Chang!
“Besides me, there’s no one you need to fear.” Pei Yan’s slender fingers held a wine cup, bringing it to her lips. “Try this. Compared to the wine you gave me, which one is stronger?”
Had he tampered with this wine too?
Su He shook her head, not daring to drink. The physician had told her not to touch anything too stimulating again.
“Just a small sip.” Pei Yan pressed the cup to her lips, coaxing her to open her mouth.
This was Hundred Flowers Brew, with a light, fragrant taste and a mild potency, perfect for cutting through the greasiness of the dishes.
Su He took a small sip, feeling a floral fragrance bloom on her cheeks as if she had just eaten a mouthful of fresh flowers.
“Is it good?” Pei Yan asked.
Su He nodded. “It’s good.”
The hall grew even quieter. The guests didn’t know whether to leave or stay, to keep eating or stop. Looking at Pei Yan risked angering him, but not looking at him felt impossible—they couldn’t help but steal glances.
After enduring nearly an hour of this torment, Pei Yan finally finished eating. He took Su He’s hand and stood up, leading her out of the hall.
“Everyone may leave,” he said lazily.
The guests sighed in relief, quickly rising to bow.
The five beauties were now weak and at a loss. The old marquis hadn’t taken them with him, and neither Princess Chang nor Pei Yan had said whether they would stay. What were they supposed to do?
As Su He stepped out of the hall, she glanced back at the beauties and whispered, “My lord, are you going to keep them? They’re all quite pretty.”
The small hand clasped in Pei Yan’s palm suddenly throbbed with pain—he was squeezing it with immense force.
“Ahh…” Su He jumped from the pain, her face scrunched up as she pleaded, “My lord, be gentler, please!”
The little thing’s voice was truly delicate. Pei Yan pulled Su He over, pressing her against his chest as he pinched her cheek.
“How many pieces of meat did you just eat?” he asked slowly.
Su He thought for a moment, carefully counting before whispering, “Five pieces.”
Plus a plump goose leg, a fish…
“Finished eating?” he asked again.
Finished eating, even her little belly was full and bulging.
Looking at her bright, sparkling eyes, Pei Yan remembered the puppy he had raised when he was six. His father believed he should not have any weaknesses, so he skinned the dog alive right in front of him. Standing on the blood-soaked grass, watching the puppy’s sorrowful eyes, his once-warm blood turned cold.
“Close your eyes,” he murmured, his gaze darkening.