Chapter 86

 Pei Yuan originally thought that Pei Xiao had come to pick up Yuanzi and was simply bringing some gifts as a polite gesture in return.

He went out with Bao Ning, walking through a gentle evening breeze along a path shaded by rows of trees, when they saw Chang Xi waiting at the entrance.

Chang Xi, a eunuch in his twenties, was tall and thin like a reed, with sharp eyes that darted around like those of a crafty rat. Upon seeing Bao Ning approach gracefully from a distance, he grinned slightly. But when he spotted Pei Yuan's tall figure following behind, his expression darkened as he thought to himself, "This is bad. I've come at the wrong time, running into this terror."

"Oh, a rare guest indeed," Pei Yuan leisurely walked to the entrance, arms crossed, and looked at Chang Xi. "What has your master sent you here for?"

Chang Xi didn't dare speak, hoping to dismiss Pei Yuan. Slowly, he said, "I... Well, it's actually not related to His Highness..."

"Speaking so slowly, it seems you're finding it hard to explain." Pei Yuan rubbed his chin with his fingers. "Then don't say anything. Chen Jia, pin him down and take the stuff inside."

Chang Xi was horrified, not understanding why Pei Yuan was giving such a rude order. He waved his hands and took two steps back. "Fourth Prince, aren't you being a bit too rough?"

No one paid him any mind. Chen Jia snapped his fingers, and seven or eight male servants armed with weapons emerged behind him, surrounding Chang Xi and the porters he had brought. Chang Xi was dumbfounded, instinctively trying to flee, but Chen Jia kicked him behind the knee, pinning him to the ground, a long knife pressed against the back of his neck. "Don't move!"

Chen Jia then ordered, "Take the things inside!"

As the servants moved to carry the boxes like bandits, Chang Xi pounded the ground in frustration, shouting, "Fourth Prince, these things aren't for you! You can't just take them!"

Pei Yuan had already turned to leave, but hearing this, he turned back. "If they're not for me, then why did you bring them to my door?"

"They're for the Fourth Princess!" Chang Xi shouted. "My master sent me with a message!"

Upon hearing this, Pei Yuan's face instantly darkened, and Bao Ning was equally shocked.

She didn't have a good impression of Pei Xiao. In her eyes, he was cold and indifferent, barely speaking, and his inability to distinguish right from wrong meant he allowed Ji Jiaying to bully others unchecked. She found him even more detestable than Pei Yuan had been at first. Pei Xiao probably disliked her as well—why was he sending her anything?

Pei Yuan impatiently waved his hand, signaling Chen Jia to release him, and lifted his chin slightly. "Speak."

Chang Xi, covered in dirt, cautiously glanced at Pei Yuan's expression. "During a war, emissaries are not to be harmed."

Pei Yuan laughed and nodded. "I won't kill you."

Chang Xi let out a breath of relief, gritting his teeth as he continued, "Today, the concubine acted rudely, so my master sends these gifts first to apologize to the Fourth Princess on her behalf. Second, out of generosity and goodwill, my master understands that the Fourth Prince's household is a bit... strained financially, and that the Fourth Princess lacks beautiful jewelry and fine clothing. My master says the Fourth Princess, so graceful and lovely, as beautiful as the goddess Luo Shen, deserves only the finest clothes and pearls..."

Hearing this, Bao Ning was completely dumbfounded.

She glanced at Pei Yuan, only to see his face turning as black as the bottom of a pot, on the verge of exploding with rage.

Chang Xi trembled, too frightened to continue speaking.

After a long silence, Pei Yuan ground his teeth and said, "You've got some nerve!"

"My master means well..."

Before he could finish, Pei Yuan took a step forward. Chang Xi, thinking he was about to be kicked, scrambled backward in panic, but the expected pain didn't come. Instead, he heard the sharp sound of metal, as Pei Yuan drew the long knife Chen Jia had just sheathed.

Chang Xi hid behind Chen Jia, wailing, "You promised not to harm me..."

Pei Yuan shot him a vicious glance, dragging the blade to the nearest box. With a few swift strikes, the box split in half, sending splinters flying and revealing flashes of silver. In just a moment, the lead box was cleaved open.

A box filled with pearls spilled its contents, the shimmering orbs scattering across the ground. More jewelry lay strewn about in disarray, sparkling in the chaotic mess.

Chang Xi wailed in distress, crying over the ruined treasures.

Bao Ning was even more shocked. It was clear that Pei Xiao had spared no expense, but why would he send her such precious items?

Seeing Bao Ning's surprised expression, Pei Yuan felt a surge of bitterness.

He had given her many fine things as well, always rushing to present them to her first, but never had she looked this way. And yet here she was, pleased by the smallest gesture from another man?

Staring at Pei Yuan's increasingly strange expression, Bao Ning could guess what he was thinking. She had seen this jealous side of him before.

But this time, there really was nothing she could explain. Besides, with so many people around, it wasn’t the time or place.

The atmosphere turned awkward.

Bao Ning finally spoke. "Eunuch Chang, the Crown Prince may have misunderstood. We won’t be accepting these gifts..."

"Accept them! Why not take the fortune that fell from the sky?" Pei Yuan interrupted her in a dark, sarcastic tone. Bao Ning sighed and let him have his way.

Pei Yuan ignored her after that, examining the final large box. It was tightly wrapped, and no one knew what was inside. Pei Yuan used the tip of his knife to poke at the lock, then, after a pause, slashed it open. Someone immediately stepped forward to lift the lid, revealing several gold-scaled carp swimming inside.

Pei Yuan asked, "Why are you giving fish?"

Chang Xi stammered, "I-I heard the Fourth Princess likes them..."

Pei Yuan's jealousy flared to the point where it nearly choked him. He sneered, swirling the knife in the water. "You've done your research, I see?"

Bao Ning stood by, sensing Pei Yuan's rising anger. She had no intention of intervening, curious instead to see how he would vent his frustration.

Though silent, the veins bulging on Pei Yuan’s hand as he gripped the knife showed his fury.

"The Crown Prince is so generous and kind. If I were to refuse, it would make me seem stingy. I’ll accept these gifts and kindly ask you to convey my gratitude to the Crown Prince. And since I can’t let him outdo me, I’ll send him something in return. Unfortunately, I don’t have much to offer, but I’ll gift him a rare sight."

Pei Yuan glanced at Chang Xi. "Let him enjoy the sight of a merman."

Pei Yuan's gaze swept towards Chang Xi, "Let him enjoy the mermaid spectacle."

Chang Xi was initially pleased, thinking he had completed his task and could retreat, but now hearing Pei Yuan's words, a chill ran down his spine, as if cold winds were swirling around him.

Pei Yuan beckoned Chen Jia with a finger, whispered something in his ear, and Chen Jia obeyed. Pei Yuan then wrapped his arm around Bao Ning's shoulders, leading her into the manor, ignoring the events behind him.

Bao Ning, confused, softly asked, "What did you just instruct?"

Behind them, Chang Xi's screams of pain echoed, followed by muffled groans as his mouth was gagged. Bao Ning, puzzled, tried to turn her head to look, but Pei Yuan firmly turned her head back, saying, "Don't worry about it."

Bao Ning had no choice but to let it go.

She didn't see what was happening behind her: Chang Xi had been stripped down to just his underpants, the pant legs tied tightly around his thighs. Five or six carp were stuffed into his waistband, their cold, rough scales scraping against his bare legs, causing him to scream in pain. He wanted to struggle, but his hands and feet were bound, and his waist tightened, trapping the fish in his pant legs.

Chen Jia grabbed another fish and shoved its head into Chang Xi's mouth, silencing him completely.

He was thrown into a water-filled container and escorted back to the Crown Prince's residence by Chen Jia.

...

On the way back, Pei Yuan remained silent, his expression dark. Bao Ning didn't attempt to comfort him.

When Yuanzi saw Bao Ning return, he cheerfully ran up to hug her leg, saying in a childish voice, "Auntie, you've been gone so long, I missed you."

Pei Yuan, sulking, asked, "Oh? So you don't miss me?"

Yuanzi puffed his cheeks, glanced at him, said nothing, and turned away to play.

Pei Yuan grumbled, "Like father, like son. Both are irritating!"

Bao Ning looked at him helplessly. Pei Yuan, hands clasped behind his back, ignored her and walked straight into the house.

A little later, Liu Mama brought dinner. Even after they finished eating, Pei Yuan remained in his sulking state. Bao Ning washed up, made the bed, and didn't speak a word to him.

The room lights brightened as Bao Ning changed into her nightwear. After finishing her routine, she sat on the bed, applying lotion to her hands. Pei Yuan, sitting by the table, absentmindedly wiped a knife, occasionally glancing at her.

He couldn't figure out why he was so moody. He wasn’t angry at Bao Ning but felt an inexplicable bitterness and frustration.

Pei Yuan stole glances at Bao Ning's silhouette: her hair cascaded down her back, her waist was slender, and her chest had developed, maturing from a girl’s figure. Her face was delicate and fair, her lips soft and tender, and her long eyelashes fluttered. She was beautiful and obedient—it made sense that many people admired her. But how was it that even after she was married, there were still people who dared approach her!

Pei Yuan slammed the knife down on the table with a bang.

Bao Ning sighed, closed the jar of lotion, and asked in a gentle voice, "How much longer are you going to fuss before going to sleep?"

Pei Yuan stared at her with a dark look, secretly thinking he might as well get a gold chain and lock her in the house, so she couldn't go anywhere.

Bao Ning shook her head. She realized she had overestimated Pei Yuan. It was too difficult for him to figure things out on his own. But considering he hadn’t lost his temper yet, she felt that with patience, he might slowly improve. He needed a little encouragement.

Bao Ning got out of bed, walked behind Pei Yuan, and hugged him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"

Just a moment ago, Pei Yuan had been debating whether to chain her hand or foot with the imaginary gold chain. But now, with Bao Ning hugging him, all those dark thoughts vanished in an instant. He couldn’t bear to hurt her.

Pei Yuan said, "I was thinking... I regret it."

Bao Ning asked, "Regret what?"

Her warm scent enveloped him. Pei Yuan clenched his fist, then released it, pulling her into his lap. His voice was low and deep. "I regret not having slept with you sooner. If we had a child, would that have tied you down?"

Bao Ning looked up in surprise, meeting his eyes. Seeing he wasn’t joking, she was startled and tried to jump up to run away.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Pei Yuan grabbed her, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and strode towards the bed. He pulled the bed curtains closed and they tumbled together into the soft covers.

...

Su Mingyou was terrified. She had heard noises at the manor gate earlier, and feeling bored in her room, decided to investigate the commotion with her maid. To her shock, she saw Chang Xi, the eunuch attendant by Pei Xiao's side!

That alone was shocking enough.

But then, she saw Zhao Qian too!

Su Mingyou couldn’t help but recall that absurd night last year...

To this day, she didn’t feel she had done anything wrong. She was Pei Che’s wife, living in luxury without want, but she had never been loved. And who doesn’t yearn for affection? Pei Che had his tender companion—a hideous maid always by his side. Why couldn’t she find her own tenderness elsewhere? If princesses could keep male consorts, why couldn't she?

Zhao Qian... Did he see her?

Su Mingyou didn't want to be seen by him. If he did, her carefully maintained peace would be shattered.

But... she also felt lonely.

Su Mingyou dismissed her maid, lay on her bed, tossing and turning. Finally, she sighed and decided it was over. Zhao Qian was Pei Xiao's guard, even if he was a nobody. Contacting him was too risky. Her fourth brother and his wife treated her well. How could she be so ungrateful?

She resolved to leave things as they were...

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