Ah, ah. Why aren’t you hurrying to let your husband give you a kiss?
Pei Ji walked toward He Zhile as if no one else was around.
The expression on the Empress’s face, surrounded by a crowd of attendants, grew increasingly unsightly. She had never liked the Pei family, nor did she care for Pei Ji, yet this man always managed to pull off so many unruly, defiant stunts!
Every time she laid eyes on him, it thoroughly disrupted her peace of mind!
The Seventh Prince’s eyes lit up instantly, and he longed to stride right over to Pei Ji immediately. However, upon seeing Pei Ji walk toward that stinking mute, he stood rooted to the spot in sullen indignation.
“Don’t be afraid. I am here.” Pei Ji took hold of his hand and gently soothed him. “With me here, no one can bully you.”
The hand in his palm was icy cold, and the fingertips were still trembling slightly, a clear sign of just how terrified he had been.
Had he known that having so many people watching would subject him to such grievances, he would have rather forbidden him from coming altogether, letting him rest safely back at the Pei estate instead of enduring terror and suffering here.
Seeing this development, Qin Yurong let out a soft sigh. Stepping toward the Empress, she lowered herself into a bow and said, “It is entirely due to this foolish old woman’s poor upbringing that he has committed such an unrefined act. I beg the Empress to punish us.”
Punish?
Pei Ji certainly deserved punishment.
Yet He Zhile had been startled and harassed by a palace maid right from her own Fengwu Palace, and the young man’s husband had marched in to back him up and demand justice. How could the Empress possibly punish him? At most, she could only deliver a few verbal reprimands, which would roll off Pei Ji like water off a duck’s back and leave him completely unconcerned.
Naturally, she could not treat Pei Ji the way she had treated that mute just moments ago. Whether she could afford to cross him was something she still judged clearly.
“Quickly, rise. How could this palace possibly be unaware of the Fourth Young Master’s temperament? Besides, the fault clearly lies with the maid of my own palace; there is no need for you to apologize.” The Empress stepped forward personally to help Qin Yurong to her feet.
Even though she was the Empress, the Pei family held immense power and authority, and they were certainly not someone she could casually afford to offend, lest it create trouble for His Majesty in the outer court.
Qin Yurong stood and offered her thanks to the Empress, then turned her gaze toward Pei Ji and shot him a subtle glance.
Taking the cue, Pei Ji stepped forward a few paces with He Zhile in tow and said, “This subject has been impolite, and I hope the Empress will not take offense. As a man of the outer court, it is improper for me to linger, so I shall take my principal spouse and depart first.”
The Empress smiled. “He has suffered a fright today, so he truly ought to be taken back to rest properly. Later, this palace will dispatch an imperial physician to the estate to examine him.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. This subject takes his leave.”
With that, Pei Ji took He Zhile by the hand and led him away, moving with such an exclusive, oblivious air that anyone nearby would have known without a doubt how deeply in love the newlyweds were.
Unbeknownst to them, a great many young maidens and noble scions watched with eyes burning green with envy.
He Zhile followed behind him like a bewildered goose, his mind blank. From the moment Pei Ji appeared until now, he hadn’t the faintest idea what expression he ought to wear, nor whether he had once again caused unnecessary trouble for his husband.
Upon stepping outside the Fengwu Palace, the carriage was waiting right by the side gate.
Pei Ji helped He Zhile up into the carriage before instructing the driver to set off for the estate immediately.
Ah.
A hesitant sound brushed against his ear, accompanied by the gentle tug of his sleeve. Pei Ji lowered his gaze and locked eyes with those bright, clear pools that resembled shimmering springs of water.
“What is it?” Pei Ji naturally closed his hand over his. “Were you frightened just now?”
He Zhile pressed his lips together and gave a slight shake of his head. He hadn’t been frightened at all; rather, noticing that Pei Ji seemed displeased with a furrowed brow that refused to relax, he couldn’t help but worry whether he had somehow displeased or annoyed his husband.
Reaching out, Pei Ji brushed a stray lock of hair behind He Zhile’s ear. The clean, lingering scent of the floral hair-washing water wrapped around his fingertips and refused to let go. Rubbing his thumb together, he smiled and said, “Don’t overthink it. You haven’t caused me any trouble.”
Long before arriving at the Fengwu Palace, he had already paid his respects to Emperor An and explained the full context of their arrival. Therefore, his sudden appearance at the Fengwu Palace could hardly be classified as trespassing.
While his initial opposition to the marriage followed by his abrupt change of attitude might naturally arouse suspicion from those sitting on high, no amount of suspicion would ever lead them to guess that he had been reborn.
Those matters were secondary. What truly bothered him were the subtle hints dropped during the encounter, which forced him to remain vigilant and suspicious of their underlying motives, leaving an undercurrent of unease.
Knowing Pei Ji’s temperament, He Zhile recalled that he was someone who clearly distinguished between love and hate, never keeping things bottled up or hiding his thoughts. If he were truly displeased, he would likely address the pros and cons directly.
Thinking along those lines, Pei Ji was far more upright and open than he was.
After all, he himself only knew how to bury those endless cycles of entangled emotions deep inside his stomach, letting no one pry them open or extract a single word.
He was truly a terrible person, or so he supposed.
Hearing those reassuring words, He Zhile immediately blossomed into a soft, gentle smile, looking somewhat starstruck as the tiny dimples at the corners of his lips flickered in and out of view.
Pei Ji ran his tongue over his slightly dry lips. He really ought to drink some pear soup to clear his internal heat.
“It is my fault as well. I figured the floral banquet would be a good chance for you to meet more people, but I didn’t expect it would still end up scaring you. From now on, whenever invitations like this pop up, we simply won’t go.” Slipping an arm around He Zhile’s waist, Pei Ji pulled him close, his broad, warm palm supporting him securely. “Did you spot the people I mentioned earlier today?”
He Zhile nodded his head eagerly, causing his earrings to tap gently against his cheeks. He steadied the jewelry with one hand and smiled until his eyes curved into crescents.
With only the two of them inside the carriage, He Zhile began gesturing and speaking haltingly to Pei Ji about how wonderful the young ladies and noble lords of the Song and Yan families were, inadvertently stirring up a heavy wave of jealousy in Pei Ji.
He let out a low huff. “Is there room for anyone else in your eyes besides them?”
Ah?
He Zhile let out a soft sound of confusion, the smile on his face gradually fading. Did Pei Ji mind him interacting with other people so much?
“You silly thing.” Pinching his chin, Pei Ji leaned in and planted a firm, resounding kiss on his cheek. “Even so, I have no intention of locking you up inside the inner courtyard.”
He already owed the little mute far too much; if he were to strip away even his freedom to step outside, how would he be any different from those beasts in the He family?
The little mute was by no means a fool. If he were nurtured and protected properly in this lifetime, he would undoubtedly grow up to become the most vibrant, resounding cicada atop the highest canopy.
Though he might occasionally turn out to be a bit noisy and bothersome.
Yet among all those who found him troublesome, Pei Ji would never be one of them.
He Zhile, however, struggled to fully grasp the meaning behind those words, or perhaps he simply didn’t dare to believe them.
He was a noble husband, and he was already married, making him no different from any other backyard matron. Everything about him was tied to the Pei estate; he didn’t feel any sense of being trapped, because that was simply how things had always been since birth.
Still, there was no need for him to argue against his husband’s wishes. Whatever his husband said, he would simply nod and obey.
As trusted ministers close to the throne, the Pei estate was situated quite close to the imperial palace. The carriage soon reached the streets of the Pei clan’s district, only to veer past the usual intersection.
He Zhile tilted his head to look at him, his round, bright eyes filled with absolute confusion, as if silently asking why they weren’t heading home.
“My father and brothers are still busy in the outer court, and Mother hasn’t returned yet either. Staying at the manor by ourselves would be quite dull, so how about I take you to meet some of my friends?” Pei Ji asked with a smile.
He had long since made up his mind to let the little mute walk out into the world more often, to let him witness a horizon far broader than the He family compound, which naturally included introducing him to his trusted circle of friends.
He Zhile held his breath for a moment, then nodded heavily!
Meeting Pei Ji’s friends.
The streets on either side were bustling with vibrant activity, vendors calling out their wares in rolling waves of sound, occasionally punctuated by friendly shouts inviting patrons to meals.
Suddenly, Pei Ji felt his arm give a slight shudder, as if something was bumping against him. Lowering his gaze to look at the little mute tucked against his arm, he instantly understood everything.
He rarely ventured outside, and counting his past days in the He family and today’s floral banquet, he had probably only stepped out a handful of times in his life. It was only natural that he felt a bit overwhelmed with excitement.
Unable to hold back a chuckle, Pei Ji softened his tone. “Don’t be nervous. The wars of Tianqi have long since ceased, and the citizens of the capital live in peace and stability. There are hardly any unreasonable bullies around here, so you don’t need to be afraid or tense. Just come out for a stroll more often from now on.”
I, do I not need to return to the manor to change my clothes first?
The smile on Pei Ji’s face froze. “What do you mean?”
Since we are going to meet your friends, shouldn’t I change into a clean set of clothes? If I rush over looking like this, will they dislike me? Should I bring along some gifts?
Pei Ji: “???”
The first time his spouse spoke a whole string of sentences in one go, and every single word was about other people?
Dammit, Song Yanguan and Yan Jiangshu didn’t deserve to breathe!
“We should change clothes indeed! We should change into something dusty, filthy, and terribly ugly!” Pei Ji muttered in sudden irritation, turning his head away to pout. When he saw him looking all day long at home, why hadn’t he ever bothered dressing up in different styles to seduce him!
His sudden flare of anger left He Zhile completely at a loss, scrambling in panic.
Ah! I am sorry.
Ah! Do not be mad, I know I was wrong!
More than once, he cursed his own muteness.
If only he could speak, perhaps he could defend himself; if only he could speak, he might have been able to coax his father into smiling back at the He estate; if only he could speak, would he finally be able to apologize to Pei Ji in his own words?
Why must he be mute? A mouth full of lingering bitterness, yet no one willing to taste it.
His nose stung, and a hot wave of tears instantly blurred his vision.
He clamped his mouth shut tightly, terrified that an uneven, choked breath might provoke the other’s disgust.
Silence fell heavily inside the carriage.
Raising an eyebrow slightly in surprise, Pei Ji wondered why the little mute had suddenly gone quiet, stopped tugging at his sleeve, and no longer pressed his soft cheek against his shoulder.
Clearing his throat twice, he glanced sideways at his companion, only to find the youth peering intently through the gap in the carriage curtain, facing the window as if the passing street scenery was infinitely more captivating than he was.
Pei Ji’s frustration deflated instantly. Even though he had guessed the other would love the lively, bustling streets, giving up on coaxing him after just two sentences was genuinely disheartening.
“Fine. Even if you do not coax me, I could never truly stay mad at you. What is so interesting to look at outside anyway? Why don’t you turn around and look at your husband instead?” Pei Ji reached out and scooped him into his arms.
The little mute allowed himself to be held obediently, keeping his head bowed. Assuming he was beating himself up with guilt, Pei Ji pinched his chin and forced him to raise his face so he had to look up into his embrace.
The next second, every word Pei Ji had prepared vanished down his throat.
The little mute’s eyes were squeezed shut, his long eyelashes clumped together by tears, while fresh droplets streamed continuously down the curves of his cheeks, pear-sized tears, each one landing like a heavy weight directly on Pei Ji’s heart.
Stalwart and unyielding as he was, seeing the little mute weep like this made him want to grab him and cry right along with him.
“Stop crying, it was my fault.” Pei Ji’s voice grew rough and husky, leaving him entirely at a loss for what to do.
If He Zhile had thrown a tantrum or screamed and yelled, it would at least show he had a temper of his own. But crying this quietly and secretly, swallowing his tears with the intent of forcing a smile right after, broke something inside him.
At that thought, Pei Ji felt like striking himself across the face.
He apologized in a hoarse whisper. “It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have said those things on purpose; I was just feeling a bit jealous. If you want to see them, we will go see them. Why worry about such trifles? Anyone who truly cares about petty details like that could never be a true friend of mine anyway. Besides, in my eyes, you always look neat and proper.”
Even when he had first seen him at his most disheveled and wretched.
As his words trailed off, the figure in his arms began to tremble slightly, and small, muffled sobs leaked past trembling lips, kept deliberately quiet as if afraid of disturbing anyone nearby.
Even while weeping, his hands instinctively formed a sign of apology.
Pei Ji recognized the gesture instantly.
His heart softened into a messy, aching puddle of absolute tenderness.
“It is not your fault.” Pei Ji buried his face in the crook of the youth’s shoulder. “I was just being petty. Wanting to change clothes and prepare gifts is entirely proper etiquette. You did nothing wrong. Can you forgive me?”
The person who had been shedding tears moments before seized upon those final words, frantically wiping away his moisture-laden eyes and nodding vigorously.
He hadn’t been angry to begin with, only feeling a bit sad; but the moment someone coaxed him, every ounce of sorrow simply vanished into thin air!
Pei Ji tilted his head against the slender column of his neck and chuckled softly, his warm breath stirring the stray locks of hair dusting the back of his neck. He couldn’t resist lightly grazing his teeth against that delicate, vulnerable skin, leaving a quiet mark of his ownership behind.
Hn. Ah.
He Zhile clamped both hands over his mouth in panic. How could a little mute make such an indecent sound!
The corner of Pei Ji’s deep, dark eyes curved upward, his throat rumbling with clear amusement. “Mhm? Still feeling shy? No one will hear us. We are newlyweds, and any sounds we make will simply be ignored by the driver.”
A brilliant flush spread upward from He Zhile’s neck all the way to the tips of his ears and across his entire face. How could someone say such shameless things out in the open?
“Won’t even answer me now? Aren’t you going to hurry up and let your husband give you a kiss?” Pei Ji teased with a light huff, though his gaze remained filled with fond amusement.
Like a startled little rabbit, He Zhile cast a nervous, darting glance around the carriage interior before gingerly leaning forward, obediently closing his eyes as he offered his cheek.
Pei Ji’s eyes darkened, a hot hunger flashing in his gaze as he licked his dry lips.
Goddamn it, just how much cuter could one person possibly be?