Chapter 81

"Hey, you're awake?" Baoning glanced back at Yuanzi and greeted him, "Are you hungry?"

Yuanzi shook his head. He rubbed his hands on his pants, his expression calm, as if nothing had happened.

"Auntie has some things to do right now, so I can't play with you." Baoning gently led him outside and said in a soft voice, "Why don't you go play with Nanny Liu?"

Yuanzi responded with a nod and hopped away cheerfully.

Baoning was surprised as she watched him bounce off like a little rabbit, then turned her head to look at Peiyuan. His eyes were open, and he was looking in the same direction as her.

Baoning paused and said to Peiyuan, "I'm starting to think that Yuanzi isn't foolish at all. He just doesn't like talking. Look how high he was jumping just now."

Peiyuan nodded, "That kid's got something special."

"I think so too. He doesn’t seem as simple as he appears," Baoning sat at his feet, applying medicine to stop the bleeding. "But he's just a kid. How different can he really be?"

As Baoning spoke, she uncorked the medicine bottle and shook the powder inside. Suddenly, she realized that the leech that should have been lying on the bed was gone.

"Where's the leech? Where did it go?" Baoning was puzzled and stood up, searching back and forth. "Huh, what's going on? Did it really disappear?"

She looked at Peiyuan in confusion. "Ayuan, am I going crazy? Did I take the leech away and throw it out just now?"

Peiyuan was just as baffled and sat up to help her search, but there was no sign of it anywhere.

"Maybe we were too busy earlier and already tossed it out."

Baoning recalled Yuanzi’s earlier expression—his cheeks were puffed up, like he was chewing on something. A sudden thought struck her: "Did Yuanzi eat it?"

"How could that be?" Peiyuan replied. "If that were true, he wouldn’t have been jumping around just now; he’d have collapsed. Don’t overthink it."

Baoning felt he had a point and nodded. "Maybe I really did forget."

She sat back down and finished bandaging the wound on Peiyuan's leg. Each time they treated the poison, it left a pea-sized scar, and now a small patch of scars had formed. The sight of them made Baoning’s heart tighten.

"Do you think, when you're old and grey, will you still have use for this leg?" Baoning tied off the bandage and rolled down his pant leg, forcing a smile. "At least I'm younger than you. When you can’t walk anymore, I’ll be able to push your wheelchair around. You better be nice to me, because your life will be in my hands. If you ever dare to be mean to me again, just wait and see how I’ll get back at you."

Peiyuan pulled Baoning into his arms and teased her ear. "Hmm? How would you get back at me?"

Baoning imagined, "I’d push you up a steep hill and then pretend to let go by accident, watching you tumble down, head over heels."

"Tsk, that’s pretty evil." Peiyuan chuckled softly, his usual playful demeanor returning. He pulled her wrist down intentionally, saying, "Then you better protect this spot of mine. If something happens to it, you'd be the one heartbroken."

"You’re already getting old, and you’re still thinking about things like that?" Baoning pulled her hand back and glared at him in mock anger.

She had been feeling a little down earlier, especially when thinking about the future, but Peiyuan’s teasing had eased that sadness. Though he could be annoying, he knew how to cheer her up.

Baoning got mischievous and tickled his waist, laughing. "You sly old fox, you never change."

"A man, no matter his age, will always think about these things when he sees the woman he likes," Peiyuan said, giving her a flirtatious look and hooking his pinky with hers. "Take a guess—do I want to right now?"

"Don’t even think about it!" Baoning’s eyes widened. "You’re still weak. Stop thinking about these crazy things and focus on resting!"

Peiyuan's eyes narrowed in mock seriousness. "If you call me weak again, I won’t care how young you are—I’ll deal with you right here!"

Baoning was intimidated by his serious expression and shrank back, turning her head away and muttering quietly, "It’s your fault for saying things I don’t want to hear."

"You’ll love hearing them one day," Peiyuan said, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He had only meant to tease her, but things had escalated.

Suddenly, he remembered something. "Ningning, that picture book I mentioned before—I bought it for you. I was so busy yesterday I forgot about it. Let’s take a look tonight and study it together."

Baoning’s face turned bright red, and she broke free from his hold, walking away. "The sun’s still up! If you insist on talking about this, can’t you wait until it’s dark? Bold and shameless in broad daylight!"

"Learning has no limits. Why is it shameful to explore a skill you haven’t encountered before?" Peiyuan said. "Wait here, I’ll go get the book. I can’t remember where I tossed it yesterday."

He started hopping on one leg toward the door, his injured leg still in pain. Despite this, he moved quickly. Baoning tried to stop him, shouting after him, "You look like a frog!"

Peiyuan rummaged through a drawer. "Who cares what kind of chicken I am? If it tastes good, it’s a good chicken."

Baoning sighed. "Can’t you just wait until tonight?"

"What law says you can’t think about such things during the day?" Peiyuan quickly pulled out a thin, yellowed book from the clutter and waved it at Baoning. "Found it."

The book was old and tattered, its corners almost falling apart. Just looking at it made Baoning's eyes hurt, and she covered them as she stepped back. "Why couldn’t you buy a new one?"

"Books like this are like wine—the older, the more valuable," Peiyuan tossed the book toward her. "Catch."

Baoning hurried to catch it, flustered.

Peiyuan whistled at her.

Baoning glanced at him. He leaned against the cabinet, tall and handsome, but his smile was mischievous.

With one hand, he pulled at his collar and tilted his head. "Hey, girl, come help me take off my clothes."

Baoning felt like running over and biting him to death.

"Not coming over?" Pei Yuan raised an eyebrow, "Shall I come to you then?"

As he spoke, he started walking towards Bao Ning. Her face turned bright red, and as Pei Yuan kept walking, he began unbuttoning his collar, exposing most of his muscular chest. Bao Ning couldn't help but avert her gaze, only to meet the surprised expression of Chen Jia standing at the doorway. Her heart skipped a beat, unsure of how long Chen Jia had been watching. She gasped and quickly pushed away Pei Yuan, who was leaning in too close.

"What’s the matter? The little kitten turning into a little leopard?" Pei Yuan, unaware that someone was watching, chuckled as he playfully lifted Bao Ning's chin, "Playing with fire, are we?"

"Chen Jia!" Bao Ning called out loudly. Pei Yuan froze.

Bao Ning quickly tucked the small book into her sleeve and walked towards the door with a proper smile. "When did you arrive?" she asked.

Chen Jia, blushing, replied, "Right when His Highness started taking off his clothes."

Pei Yuan's face darkened. His mood, already sour from being interrupted, now plummeted further with the embarrassment. Furious, his chest heaved as he grabbed a nearby chair and hurled it across the room, yelling, "Why the hell didn’t you make some noise earlier! Just standing there to watch me make a fool of myself?"

Chen Jia stammered, "Your Highness, I couldn’t let it out."

"Get out!" Pei Yuan roared, veins throbbing on his forehead, pointing furiously at the door, "Get out of my sight! If you come within three meters of this room again, I’ll personally use the military cane to skin you alive!"

Terrified by Pei Yuan’s outburst, Chen Jia fled in a panic.

The atmosphere from moments earlier had completely dissipated.

Bao Ning couldn’t help but stifle her laughter, using her sleeve to cover her face as she glanced at Pei Yuan’s angry expression. Unable to hold it in any longer, she burst into laughter.

"Shut up!" Pei Yuan snapped, his face cold as he turned on his heel and walked into the inner chamber, furious. With an authoritative gesture, he said, "Come and help me change my clothes."

Bao Ning moved slowly towards him.

Pei Yuan gave her a sharp glance, his tone unfriendly, "Hurry up!"

Bao Ning reached his side, her hands resting on his loose belt. Holding back her laughter, she said, "Your Highness, maybe you shouldn’t change, otherwise wouldn’t it have been a waste to undress earlier?"

Pei Yuan looked at her in shock, unable to believe what she just said.

His lips moved, but he couldn’t form any words. Flustered, he flicked his sleeve and stormed off in embarrassment.

…

Wei Meng had no idea what he had done to anger this storm of a man again.

He was sitting under a tree, feeding salt to a sheep, the tall and intimidating man wearing a gentle smile, saying, "Eat up, little lamb, come on."

Pei Yuan approached and sneered, "The way you talk makes me sick."

Wei Meng, used to Pei Yuan’s sudden mood swings, brushed off the comment and stood up. "I’ve found something regarding Lady Su."

"So soon?" Pei Yuan asked.

"It was simple to trace. Lady Su and the beggars with her fled from the south. They all tell the same story and seem genuine, so it's likely true," Wei Meng explained. "As for more details from further back, the investigation is ongoing."

Pei Yuan nodded, then asked, "Is Jia Ling being watched?"

"Yes," Wei Meng clicked his tongue. "We planted a mole in the Marquis of Chongyuan’s household. This morning, the informant reported that Jia Ling had another argument with his wife, smashing all the antique vases. He’s threatening to divorce her."

"Again, over not having children?" Pei Yuan frowned. "Or does Jia Ling think he's gotten close enough to Pei Xiao and now wants to trade up for a younger, wealthier wife?"

Wei Meng replied, "Neither. Jia Ling’s mistress is pregnant! The one from Qingluo Pavilion, her name’s Xue Fu. He wants to bring her into the household as a concubine, but his wife won’t agree. It’s gotten nasty. According to the informant, Jia Ling cursed her out using some pretty vile language, making the poor woman cry."

"He’s lost his mind," Pei Yuan said, astonished. "A courtesan? Even if she’s pregnant, how can Jia Ling be sure the child is his?"

"Maybe it doesn’t even matter," Wei Meng sighed. "He just needs a child to prove himself and secure his position as heir."

"Pathetic," Pei Yuan scoffed. "Still, this could be useful. Xue Fu, right?"

"Yes. Jia Ling’s trying to buy her freedom, but his money is tied up with his wife. He can’t get the funds immediately," Wei Meng explained.

"Raise the price. Make sure he can’t afford it this month, and take control of Xue Fu. Don’t let her escape," Pei Yuan ordered.

Wei Meng thumped his chest. "Consider it done. Don’t worry!"

Pei Yuan murmured his acknowledgment, his mind elsewhere. Wei Meng watched him carefully and hesitated before speaking. "General, there’s something I’ve been meaning to say, but I’m not sure if I should."

Pei Yuan turned. "If there’s something to say, just spit it out."

"Well," Wei Meng began awkwardly, "The Marchioness is Lady Bao Ning’s older sister. Given the current trouble, she’s going to need comfort. Lady Bao Ning is the perfect person for that. If she steps in, things could go much smoother. Surely she knows some of the Marquis's secrets, right?"

Pei Yuan’s face darkened. "You want me to use her to pit her sister against her brother-in-law?"

"Well, it doesn’t have to sound so harsh," Wei Meng stammered. "Those aiming for power sometimes need to be ruthless. You have connections; why not use them?"

"This isn’t up for discussion," Pei Yuan cut him off, turning to leave. "Anything else?"

Wei Meng tried to stop him. "Please reconsider. You’re husband and wife; there’s nothing you can’t talk about. If this works, won’t Lady Bao Ning share in the glory?"

Pei Yuan sighed deeply and brushed him off. "Don’t bring this up again."

As Pei Yuan walked back home, the thought kept nagging at him. If he set aside his personal feelings, it made sense for Bao Ning to help. But he couldn’t bring himself to force her. Bao Ning was his everything, his life. Though he never said it out loud, he knew it well. He couldn’t bear to make her uncomfortable.

Just thinking about the tears she shed during Pei Xiao’s wedding made him feel guiltier. Bao Ning had already endured so much for him. All he wanted now was to make things easier for her.

With that in mind, Pei Yuan made up his mind as he walked through the door.

Bao Ning was inside, playing with the dogs. When she saw him, she patted down her dress and went to greet him with a smile. Seeing her happy made Pei Yuan feel that everything he did was worth it.

Pei Yuan casually spread his arms and grinned, "Come, help me change."

Bao Ning slapped his hand. "You’ve finally learned a new phrase! How many times have you said that today? Isn’t it annoying?"

Pei Yuan laughed heartily and pulled her close as they walked towards the bed. Although she worried about his leg injury, she helped him along. Bao Ning knew him well. Despite his smiles, she could tell there was something on his mind.

"Ah Yuan, what did General Wei come to see you about?" Bao Ning tugged at his sleeve and looked up at him with a smile. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

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