Chapter 51

 Pei Yuan repeatedly said "I was wrong" a hundred and fifty times. By the end, Bao Ning was so annoyed that she wanted to gag him, but he seemed to be addicted to it and insisted on finishing.

He recited for a full quarter of an hour.

Pei Yuan asked, "Are you satisfied now?"

Bao Ning ignored him and turned to walk down the bridge. Pei Yuan grabbed her: "Isn’t it the number you asked for, exactly five hundred times, just as you wanted."

Bao Ning shook off his hand, embarrassed and irritated. "I really don’t know where you learned these deceptive tricks. You can’t say anything serious, only lies. You’re such a big fraud."

Pei Yuan replied seriously, "But my feelings for you are genuine."

Bao Ning looked at him in surprise, realizing that he had truly changed. Over these past few days, as she had been sulking with him, Pei Yuan had changed a lot compared to before. He was no longer straightforward but became slippery with his words, daring to say anything.

Perhaps this was his true nature—like a bandit, without any decency.

Without waiting for Bao Ning to react further, Pei Yuan took a step forward and picked her up, carrying her toward the nearby carriage. "Forget about this. Let’s change the place and go have some fun."

Bao Ning was startled by his actions. With people around watching, Bao Ning wasn’t as bold as him. She tried to push him away. "What are you doing? Put me down!"

Pei Yuan didn’t loosen his grip. "We’re a married couple, what’s there to be afraid of?"

They were walking on a small path, and though it was sparse, there were still a few passersby who whispered among themselves at the sight. Bao Ning couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, burying her face in Pei Yuan’s neck and not daring to show herself.

When they finally reached the carriage, the driver opened the door. Before Pei Yuan could react, Bao Ning hopped in like a rabbit. Her cheeks were already flushed, and she glared angrily at Pei Yuan.

Pei Yuan, looking pleased, sat down next to her, spreading his legs and leaning back comfortably.

Fearing that others might hear, Bao Ning lowered her voice. "You’re being too reckless. Doing such things in public..."

Pei Yuan let out a low, gruff sound of acknowledgment and then fell silent.

The carriage began to move, and apart from the sound of the wheels on the ground, the carriage was filled with a gloomy silence.

Bao Ning waited for Pei Yuan to speak, but after a long time without a word, she looked over and noticed that his face had become somewhat pale, and his lips had lost color.

Bao Ning’s heart tightened. Forgetting about her earlier irritation, she quickly rolled up his sleeve to check. As expected, the poison on his wrist had spread significantly, especially in the area where the red spots had first appeared. It was now the size of a soybean, pulsating ominously, almost as if it had a life of its own.

"Don’t look," Pei Yuan said with his eyes closed, pulling down his sleeve. His voice was weak.

Bao Ning had never seen anything like this. For a moment, it seemed as if Pei Yuan had become seriously ill, his earlier vitality completely gone. She anxiously felt his forehead, which was icy cold.

"What’s happening?" Bao Ning’s voice trembled. She couldn’t help but think the worst. "Why did it suddenly flare up? It wasn’t this severe before..."

Bao Ning recalled the rainy day a few days ago, when Zhou Jiangcheng had an accident. Pei Yuan had been fine all night, so why was he like this today? Could it be that the poison had accumulated to a certain degree and suddenly erupted?

"Don’t worry," Pei Yuan leaned in, pulling her close, resting his chin on the top of her head, and whispered comforting words. "I’m tough. I’ll get through this."

Bao Ning, with her back to him, dared not move. She could feel the throbbing of his veins, as if tiny bugs were crawling inside him.

Pei Yuan took a deep breath and hugged her tighter.

Bao Ning opened her mouth and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"

After a long silence, Pei Yuan finally answered. Bao Ning thought he had fallen asleep, but his voice came through, "Yes, it hurts."

Bao Ning’s heart couldn’t take it, and her nose felt a twinge of sourness.

After being with him for so long, Pei Yuan’s wild nature was well-known. He never cared for his own body, suffering many injuries and losing much blood, but he had never mentioned pain before. This was the first time.

"We went to the wrong place," Pei Yuan suddenly said.

Bao Ning didn't immediately react. "What?"

"We shouldn't have gone to the broken bridge. When we were standing there, I felt like someone was watching us, from the direction of the boat."

Bao Ning shivered. "Who?"

"I don't know," Pei Yuan said with his eyes closed. "I only realized it at the last moment. I knew you would be scared, so I didn't tell you and hurried away."

Bao Ning understood now; he was explaining why he had carried her back.

Bao Ning was taken aback. "You should have just taken my hand and led me. Why did you choose such an exhausting way, knowing it was going to rain and that your body wasn’t well?"

"I forgot. It was a momentary impulse," Pei Yuan said, turning her face towards him, sliding his lips down to kiss her eyelids. "I was scared. You’re so beautiful, so likable. There are always people wanting to take you from me. People with the surname Feng, Xu, Zhou..."

His mind was a bit unclear, and he murmured by Bao Ning’s ear, "I really want to kill them."

Bao Ning only heard the word "kill."

She didn't let it trouble her. She supported Pei Yuan's head, changing his position so that he was lying on her lap, and comforted him, "Alright, stop talking. Just rest. We’re going home now."

Bao Ning’s hand rested on his forehead. Pei Yuan’s lips had turned frightfully pale. She took a deep breath and reminded herself to stay calm.

There was no time to wait. It had to be tonight—whether the leech poison antidote would work had to be tried!

---

By the time they reached the Qiu residence, the rain had turned into a torrential downpour. It was early summer, and the rain was heavy, with no sign of letting up.

Pei Yuan had already endured the most excruciating part. In fact, he had anticipated it. Last time, he had managed to suppress the poison himself. Zhou Jiangcheng’s extreme actions had made him angry, and he hadn’t considered the consequences, which had harmed his body. This time, the pain from the poisoning was twice as severe.

The carriage had an umbrella. Bao Ning had intended to get out first, hold the umbrella, and wait for Pei Yuan. However, to her surprise, he suddenly stood up, as he used to, jumping down first and reaching out to help her.

In the rain, his expression remained as usual. If it weren’t for the trembling hand holding the umbrella, he would almost appear to be a healthy person.

The driver watched them with a smile. Bao Ning knew Pei Yuan was putting on a brave front. His pride prevented him from showing weakness in front of others, and for safety, he had to appear strong so that no one would think him weak and take advantage of him.

Bao Ning helped Pei Yuan down. As soon as they landed, Pei Yuan embraced her and placed his lips on the back of her neck, the wet sensation touching her.

Something like water flowed down her neck.

Bao Ning looked up at Pei Yuan. He used his thumb to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth and naturally rested his hand on her shoulder. "Let’s go."

Bao Ning felt a pang of sorrow. She realized that Pei Yuan was really in bad shape this time, worse than any previous occasion.

"I’ll support you," Bao Ning said, grabbing his arm and holding his elbow.

Pei Yuan didn’t refuse. He turned his head and lightly pressed his cheek against Bao Ning’s, as if rewarding and encouraging her.

Bao Ning’s eyes were a bit red. She looked at Pei Yuan, feeling that he was particularly vulnerable at this moment. When someone is vulnerable, does their heart become softer too, just like he was now?

"Pei Yuan, hold on," Bao Ning said, looking down and pulling him forward. She stared at her own toes. "I’m not angry with you anymore. I forgive you for that fake apology. Just be well. Tomorrow morning, I’ll make you some dumplings."

"Are you stupid?" Pei Yuan chuckled, still having the energy to joke. "You should be grateful it’s me you met. If it were someone else, with your current skills, they’d sell you off in no time."

Today was the second time Bao Ning had been called foolish. Ji Yun had said the same to her earlier and warned her to be more alert and aware of people’s true nature.

She looked up at Pei Yuan. He held the umbrella, his fingers were long and well-defined like the ribs of the umbrella.

His eyes were smiling, but his fingertips tightened more and more. He finally coughed, bending painfully, and the blood he spat out splattered onto Bao Ning’s shoulder.

Pei Yuan tried to comfort her. "Don’t think I’m dirty. I’ll wash your clothes when I’m better."

Bao Ning suddenly began to cry. She felt blocked and suffocated inside. As she wiped her tears and pulled Pei Yuan towards the courtyard, the wind was too strong, making the umbrella useless. She knew they must both look quite disheveled. Pei Yuan, rarely understanding others, knew she was upset and tried to cheer her up with jokes while coughing.

Bao Ning thought that this version of Pei Yuan was even more endearing than the previous annoying Pei Yuan.

The annoying Pei Yuan made people angry; the current Pei Yuan made people heartbroken. She preferred to be angry rather than feel the pain.

---

Under a sprawling begonia tree stood a pair of sisters.

The older one was dressed in a crimson gown, her makeup exquisite and glamorous, with arched eyebrows and lips that seemed to be dripping. She watched the direction where Pei Yuan had left, her delicate brows furrowed tightly.

"Didn’t you get along well with that woman?" Qiu Lingjun looked at her sister. "What’s wrong with the Fourth Prince? Is he ill?"

Qiu Lingyan, panic-stricken and at a loss, replied, "I—I don’t know."

"Don't you lie to me," Qiu Lingjun said, squatting down and smiling as she rubbed her younger sister's chubby cheeks. Suddenly, her expression changed, and she pinched her sister hard. "Without my protection, you would have been abandoned the day you were born and wouldn't have made it to where you are now. Just look at your face—it's so scary that even ghosts would cry at the sight of it. I saved your life, so you must obediently listen to me!"

"I understand, I understand, sister," Qiu Lingyan cried out, trying to keep her voice down as she desperately covered her mouth.

"That's a good girl," Qiu Lingjun coaxed her. "I’m your sister. I wouldn’t harm you, and you will protect me, right?"

Qiu Lingyan, confused, nodded. Seeing Qiu Lingjun’s tearful expression, she said, "Yanzi, can you bear to let your sister marry that fool, the Second Prince?"

"No..."

Qiu Lingjun coaxed her further. "So, now, tell me everything you know, word for word, without missing anything. Do you understand?"

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