Chapter 19

 Because of Pei Yuan's words, Bao Ning was so happy that she couldn't sleep all night.

Sometimes she thought about what to bring to her aunt, sometimes she thought about what clothes to wear tomorrow, and sometimes she thought about Pei Yuan.Bao Ning thought she should get a wheelchair for Pei Yuan.

His legs didn't hurt as much as before, but he still walked slowly. If she pushed him in a wheelchair, it would be much more convenient.

Ah Huang didn't know why she was so excited, so it followed her, jumping around on the kang.

Bao Ning hugged it and kissed it a couple of times, her eyes forming crescent moons.

Apart from helping Pei Yuan with his legs, Bao Ning also had some selfish thoughts.

She missed her aunt very much. From childhood to adulthood, she had never been away from her for so long. And there was Ji Yun. She didn't know if he had grown taller and improved his studies.Actually, as soon as Bao Ning saw Pei Yang today, she thought of her own brother.

Thinking that she could see him tomorrow made her feel even more gentle in her heart.Thinking this and that, until it was almost dawn, Bao Ning finally fell asleep. In just a few moments, the rooster in the yard started crowing. She turned over and quickly got up to wash.

After tidying herself up neatly, Bao Ning hesitated for a moment, then took out a set of men's robes from the cabinet and went to Pei Yuan's door to knock.

Pei Yang had already gotten up early and went outside to walk the horse, leaving Pei Yuan alone in the room. The door was half open, and Pei Yuan was standing in the corner, bending over to wash his face.Because his left leg couldn't bear weight, he had to support himself with one hand while washing with the other, which was not very convenient. Many water droplets dripped into his collar and wet the front of his robe.

Seeing this, Bao Ning quickly put down the clothes, took a handkerchief in her hand, and went up to support his arm. "Fourth Prince, let me help you.""Why is there no sound when you walk?" Pei Yuan straightened up with her help, his gaze falling on the hairline of Bao Ning.

Perhaps because she was going back home, she had done her hair in a woman's bun today. Her hair was piled up high in the middle, with a pearl hairpin inserted in it, which was very different from usual.

Normally, Bao Ning didn't make such elaborate hairstyles. Most of the time, she let her long hair down or braided it, looking lively and agile, as if she had not yet entered the women's quarters.

Now she looked even more dignified and gentle, but also mature.Her eyes were still clear and shy, like an unmarried girl, which didn't quite match the pearl hairpin. In Pei Yuan's mind, Bao Ning was more suited to those sparkling and charming delicate ornaments. She was young and shouldn't be constrained by her status.

Bao Ning didn't know what Pei Yuan was thinking. She tiptoed over and wiped his face, washed the handkerchief, and wiped his neck as well.

Then she went to get the new clothes she had made.Pei Yuan looked at Bao Ning standing in front of him, a head shorter than him. At first, she seemed a bit shy and embarrassed, but for some reason, she suddenly raised her head, looking somewhat proud and eager for praise."Fourth Prince, I made you some clothes. They look very nice. Do you want to try them on?"

Bao Ning was afraid that Pei Yuan would think she was trying to please him because of her return home today, so she quickly explained, "I made them a long time ago, but I just remembered to give them to you today."

She had indeed made them a long time ago, but during the previous period, Pei Yuan had been indifferent to her, so Bao Ning didn't dare to give them to him. She was afraid that he would mock her when he received something she had put effort into.These days, Pei Yuan's attitude had improved a lot, and he was also returning home today, so Bao Ning decided to give them to him.

It was not easy to go out once, dressed neatly, making people look good, and making herself happy too, right?

Pei Yuan was slightly stunned, took the clothes, and rubbed the fabric with his fingers. It was very good material, and the stitches were tight, showing that it was made with care.

Pei Yuan felt a warmth in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face, just "Hmm" sound.He didn't even say thank you or any kind words, which made Bao Ning feel a moment of disappointment.Clearly, yesterday he was joking with her, but after just one night, he was back to looking like he owed her money.

Bao Ning sighed softly, adjusted her mood, and smiled at him again. "Fourth Prince, shall I help you put it on?"Pei Yuan didn't say anything, standing expressionless, extending his arms towards her.

Bao Ning pursed her lips, sighed inwardly, and resigned herself to helping him put on the clothes.When she was washing the clothes, Bao Ning had measured Pei Yuan's size with her hands.

She was skillful, so the clothes she made fit him perfectly, not too loose or too tight, and even the length of the belt left was just right.Pei Yuan was tall and had long legs, making him look good in anything. Bao Ning stepped back to look at him, her eyes shining.

She felt that Pei Yuan seemed like a different person.During this period, he liked to stay in the house and rarely went out. He hardly wore any outer clothes, just a plain inner robe, which didn't look good on him.

Now, with the right clothes on, he looked handsome again, like the carefree Fourth Prince he used to be. Bao Ning looked at him, and the scene in front of her gradually overlapped with her memories. During the Lantern Festival, she watched from upstairs as Pei Yuan rode past the street in a black robe, holding a bright silver whip, his back straight and upright.

Compared to then, the only change now was Pei Yuan's eyes. They had become deeper, darker, sharper, and harder to approach. He had lost the youthful vigor he once had.Pei Yuan adjusted his collar in front of the mirror, his chin slightly raised, and caught sight of Bao Ning's expression in the mirror.

His fingers paused slightly, and he asked, "So why are you looking at me like that?"Bao Ning said, "How about we wait another half a year until the Mid-Autumn Festival, and then go together to see the lanterns on the street?"

Pei Yuan's throat moved slightly. He originally wanted to refuse, but looking into Bao Ning's eyes, he swallowed the words and just said, "Let's talk about it later."

After that, until they left the house and got on the carriage, Pei Yuan didn't speak to her again.Bao Ning didn't know what she had done to upset him.

She only saw his somber expression as he leaned back in the soft chair, unwilling to speak.Bao Ning lifted the curtain to look outside. The path was secluded, with the willow trees on the side already budding fresh green leaves, and the rapeseed flowers in the fields blooming in vibrant yellow.

Several farmers wearing straw hats were irrigating the fields.Baoning realized that there were indeed people living nearby; it was just that they were a bit far away.The spring scenery was beautiful, uplifting her mood. Bao Ning turned her head to look at Pei Yuan and was surprised to find that he had opened his eyes at some point and was looking out of the window on her side, his gaze somewhat vacant.

Bao Ning suddenly remembered that he hadn't been out to that small courtyard for a long time, nor had he seen the outside scenery for a long time. Counting the time he spent in prison, he had been isolated from the world for a long time.

With this in mind, his erratic behavior didn't seem so unforgivable anymore.The fragrance of flowers wafted in.Pei Yuan turned his head to look at her and slowly said, "In a few days, gather some willow branches and I'll make you a flower crown."

Bao Ning was surprised and delighted. "Really?"Pei Yuan raised his hand to touch her pearl hairpin, frowned, and said, "This doesn't look good."

Bao Ning felt a bit embarrassed. "It was a gift from my aunt."

Pei Yuan said, "No wonder it looks so old-fashioned.""I..." Bao Ning started to say something but stopped herself, consoling herself that she shouldn't be angry with him.She looked out of the window for a while, then turned to Pei Yuan.

"Fourth Prince, were you serious about what you said earlier?"Pei Yuan seemed a bit impatient. "What's real or fake?"Bao Ning pointed to her hair. "About making the flower crown..."His tone turned unfriendly again. "Fake."

Bao Ning felt that this person was really unreasonable. Good and bad were just a thought away.

She closed her mouth and stopped talking to Pei Yuan.Upon entering the capital, Bao Ning followed her original plan and first went to buy a wheelchair with Pei Yang.

She also bought some supplements and jewelry as gifts for her return.Bao Ning originally wanted to pay for it herself, but Pei Yuan stopped her.

Without any expression on his face, he took out a piece of gold from his sleeve and handed it to her.Bao Ning came from a wealthy family and had never lacked anything since she was young.

However, the Rong guo Duke's mansion was indeed declining, so while she didn't lack money, she rarely saw so much at once.At first, she forgot to reach out her hand. Pei Yuan's tone was not good. "Take it."Bao Ning then dared to hold it over. She wasn't greedy, but who wouldn't be happy to see money? She didn't care about Pei Yuan's attitude towards her in the carriage anymore and became even more affectionate towards him with her smile.

This was a wealthy street called Qingzhu Alley, where things were expensive. Most of the customers were high-ranking officials who came to buy things, and it was very close to the Rongguo Duke's mansion.

The street was narrow, making it inconvenient for carriages to pass. Pei Yang found a place to tie up the horse, and Bao Ning pushed Pei Yuan all the way. In just a moment, they arrived at the gates guarded by two stone lions.

Wheelchairs were rare, and it was even rarer to see a young man sitting in one. To make it even more unusual, a young girl was pushing him, attracting the attention of the crowd.

Bao Ning couldn't hear as well as Pei Yuan, but she could still hear the discussions behind her.

It seemed that some people recognized Pei Yuan, and their whispers became louder. Bao Ning caught sight of two people on the street pointing at them as they passed by, and she heard one of them say quietly, "Who is that sitting there? He looks so familiar."
"Isn't that the Fourth Prince? He looks similar, but how could he be paralyzed? He used to be quite powerful...""I don't know. I heard that the Fourth Prince has a bad reputation and has done many wicked things. Maybe it's karma. He deserves it."

Then someone asked, "Who's the girl behind him? She's well-dressed. Could she be the Fourth Prince's consort?"

"...Don't be ridiculous. Who would marry him? Is she out of her mind?"Bao Ning's fingers on the push handle gradually turned white.

She couldn't help but turn her head and glare at those people. She knew she had behaved a bit petty just now and shouldn't have paid attention to those gossiping people, but she felt a surge of bitterness in her heart.

She hadn't expected these discussions.Pei Yuan spoke lightly, "Don't mind them. People's mouths can't be shut."

Bao Ning snapped out of it. She looked down at Pei Yuan's expression and felt that he seemed to have anticipated it long ago, with no change in his gaze as he stared ahead.

Bao Ning's heart sank. In an instant, she understood why Pei Yuan didn't like going out. Someone as proud as him couldn't bear such physical impairment. The more prideful a person was, the more sensitive they were to their shortcomings.

But Pei Yuan didn't want people to see his sensitivity, so he pretended.For Pei Yuan, agreeing to accompany her back home must have been an especially difficult decision.

She had always tried to be good to Pei Yuan, making sure he ate well and dressed well, helping him with his legs, but she forgot that what Pei Yuan lacked wasn't just these things.

Bao Ning opened her mouth, suddenly realizing that she had been striving in the wrong direction all along.She didn't know how long had passed. When she came to her senses, they were already in front of the Duke's mansion's gate. She stood there for a long time, motionless."Bao Ning." Pei Yuan suddenly called her, his voice a bit hoarse.

Bao Ning lowered her head and leaned closer to his face, asking softly, "What's wrong?"Pei Yuan furrowed his brows. "Did I embarrass you?"

Bao Ning's heart suddenly ached."How could you!" Bao Ning took a deep breath and straightened her back. "You're Pei Yuan, even if you're sitting there, you're still taller than anyone else. How could you embarrass me?"She looked serious. "Don't underestimate yourself."Pei Yuan watched as Bao Ning rolled up her sleeves and walked steadily towards the gate, slightly rolling up his sleeves as well, and knocked three times

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