Chapter 152:
As soon as these words entered her ears, Xie Wanning’s pupils suddenly dilated, and she subconsciously wanted to lower her eyes to avoid his line of sight.
But the man in front of her was determined to get an answer, his hand pinching her neck slightly tightening, “Wanwan, be good, tell me the truth. No matter what the answer is, I won’t blame you.”
“…I don’t know,” this sudden question left Xie Wanning somewhat at a loss, “I really don’t know.”
“He’s in your heart, how could you not know?”
His voice was very gentle, but his eyes held a firmness that allowed no evasion.
Xie Wanning fiercely pinched her own palm, forcing herself to calm down.
Pei Yuqing was very patient, “Tell me, what do you think of Lu Ziyan?”
“What could I possibly think of him…” Whenever this name was mentioned, disgust appeared on Xie Wanning’s face, and she said listlessly: “I’m very annoyed with him. Thinking of his entanglement only makes me feel hatred.”
“Nothing else?” Pei Yuqing touched her eyelids, his voice light as a murmur: “Is it really just these?”
“Of course!” Xie Wanning said loudly: “That person only makes me dislike him, what else could there be!”
Hearing this, Pei Yuqing tugged at his lips, trying to form a smile.
For a moment, he really wanted to take out a bronze mirror and let her look at herself, to see her own expression.
He wasn’t one to worry unnecessarily or see enemies everywhere. If she really only felt annoyance, why would he be on high alert like facing a great enemy?
The man in front of her was silent for a long time. Xie Wanning saw the bitterness at the corner of his lips and felt a dull pain in her chest. She hurriedly stretched her arms around his neck, leaned in close, and said urgently: “Don’t overthink it, okay? I definitely like you.”
“…Really?” Pei Yuqing’s eyelashes trembled, as if infused with a bit of life, “Wanwan, don’t lie to me…”
“Of course it’s true!” She buried her face in his shoulder and neck, muttering to herself: “If I didn’t like you, why would I marry you!”
“Then why won’t you let me touch you?” His tone was clearly aggrieved, his hand stroking her back, “I thought you were keeping yourself chaste for him.”
“What nonsense are you thinking! Keeping what chastity for him,” Xie Wanning was somewhat annoyed, huffing as she pinched his neck, “If I were really keeping myself chaste for him, I wouldn’t have consummated with you.”
Mentioning consummation made Pei Yuqing even more aggrieved, “It’s been several months, and you won’t let me touch you again. I thought you regretted consummating with me.”
Xie Wanning: “…”
“Wanwan,” his ear tips were also emitting heat, but he still asked softly, “You’ve gone so long without wanting me. Was there something I did badly that time?”
Xie Wanning: “…”
How did the topic extend back here again.
Once bitten by a snake, afraid of ropes for ten years—Xie Wanning even suspected this person wasn’t deliberately leading her into a trap again just for this matter, was he?
She changed the subject, “Are you really leaving the capital?”
Pei Yuqing gave a low hum, “Eat the ruler’s salary, bear the ruler’s worries.”
“Will there be danger?” Xie Wanning pursed her lips, “I’m afraid he’ll make a move against you.”
Under the Emperor’s feet, no matter how arrogant Lu Ziyan was, he had to restrain himself somewhat.
Once leaving the capital city…
Pei Yuqing chuckled lightly but didn’t speak, instead going to nibble at her collarbone.
She was wearing a light and thin smoky skirt today, and her lapel and neckline had been tugged open somewhat by him at some point, with wet kisses leaving a string of marks.
“Don’t!” Xie Wanning shrank her neck to dodge, but he countered by pressing her shoulders against the carriage wall, the kisses sliding down from her collarbone, stirring up a layer of shivers.
“Pei Changqing!” Xie Wanning cried out in a low voice, “This is a carriage!”
“Be good, there’s a stretch of road to the outskirts of the capital,” Pei Changqing lifted his eyes to look at her, reaching to peel off her clothes, coaxing: “Give me once first.”
“No, no!” Xie Wanning wouldn’t agree, desperately pushing him, her tone laced with shame and anger: “In a place like this, you still dare to act indecently with me!”
Pei Yuqing was stunned for a moment, seemingly really considering the question. Taking the opportunity, Xie Wanning hurriedly covered her neckline, dodged to the corner, and glared at him angrily: “You’re too driven by lust!”
“…” Pei Yuqing fell silent, looking at the red marks on her collarbone, unable to think of even a word of rebuttal.
She was right; he was indeed driven by lust. As soon as he held her in his arms, he couldn’t help but think of this matter…
His dazed and lost expression looked rather pitiful. Xie Wanning straightened her clothes, her gaze sweeping to his waist and abdomen, then turning away as if scalded, “Tidy yourself up!”
Pei Yuqing’s face was also somewhat uneasy.
After a while, when Xie Wanning turned back and saw he was still in that state, she frowned tightly, “I told you to tidy yourself up!”
Pei Yuqing was almost helpless, “How to tidy?”
“You ask me?” Xie Wanning widened her eyes, “How would I know!”
Pei Yuqing: “…”
He was silent for a moment, then reached out to pull her back into his arms, sighing lightly, “Don’t mind it; it’ll be fine in a bit.”
It was clearly a very ordinary tone, but Xie Wanning could hear extremely complex emotions in it.
Two lives as a person, she had married twice, yet she didn’t know what to do…
“Will you let me move back tonight?” Pei Yuqing nibbled her earlobe, saying lowly: “Wanwan, you’re tormenting me to death.”
“…So insatiable?” Xie Wanning pursed her lips, “Just a few months and you’re tormented to death? Then how did you survive the previous twenty-seven years?”
“Wanwan, be reasonable!” Pei Yuqing sucked hard on her tender earlobe. The usually gentle person actually had a bit of gritted teeth in his words.
The scorching hot breath at her ear made Xie Wanning twist uneasily, not daring to mock him anymore.
Indeed, …it was different.
In her past life, wasn’t Lu Ziyan the same?
At that time, she was annoyed that he had many wives and concubines in his back courtyard, yet he always came to pester her.
Speaking of which, in her past life, five years after she died, he ascended the imperial throne but never took an imperial consort…
Realizing what she was thinking, Xie Wanning hurriedly reined in her thoughts.
“Wanwan,” Pei Yuqing’s voice by her ear grew even more hoarse, “I’m about to leave the capital. Let me move back tonight, okay?”
Xie Wanning blinked, “How long until you come back?”
“Not certain yet, but the journey is far; just the round trip will take one or two months,” Pei Yuqing said: “This trip will be at least three to five months, at most half a year.”
…So long.
Xie Wanning raised her head, eyes full of hope: “Can I go with you?”
She wasn’t reassured about him leaving the capital alone; Lu Ziyan was a madman, repeatedly saying he wanted to chop him up and feed him to the dogs.
The fear in her eyes was clear. Pei Yuqing’s heart softened completely, and he couldn’t help but lower his head to kiss her lips, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely be fine.”
Xie Wanning pressed: “Can you take me with you?”
Pei Yuqing shook his head slightly, “The journey is far; it’s inconvenient for you to go along.”
He was right; he wasn’t being transferred to a local post, just temporarily dispatched by His Majesty to handle affairs. There was no reason to bring family for such a short time.
Moreover, things were chaotic outside, with rebels and disaster victims everywhere, officials in various states and prefectures indistinguishable between loyal and treacherous. Bringing her might even hinder progress…
Thinking this way, she still disappointedly lowered her head, “You must come back safely.”
“…Okay,” Pei Yuqing lifted her jaw, lowering his head to capture her lips in a light kiss, “You must take good care of yourself in the capital too, so I won’t be worried.”
Knowing her husband was about to leave, Xie Wanning no longer cared about the estrangement between them, tilting her head obediently to let him kiss her.
On the carriage to the manor, the two were intimately entwined the whole way, finally showing the affection of a newlywed couple.
Even when the carriage stopped, Pei Yuqing was reluctant to let go of the young lady in his arms, even wanting to instruct the coachman to circle a few more times.
But today was after all the big day for his legitimate youngest sister’s husband selection. As her elder brother, he truly couldn’t slack off.
Once off the carriage, Pei Yuqing went to greet the arriving guests, while Xie Wanning naturally went to find her mother-in-law and the several Pei Family madams to help host the banquet together.
This was the first time the Pei Family held a beast taming performance, and even the beast taming arena was newly built. But it was after all Princess Duanyang’s manor, with the venue constructed grand and imposing.
Today’s guests were all the young masters and young ladies from various families; the number wasn’t actually that many. Including the servants, it was more than enough.
Once the guests had mostly arrived, the beast taming performance was about to begin.
The viewing platform inside the arena was already set with tables and soft chairs, the tables laden with melons and fruits, pastries, fine wine, and delicacies. The young ladies were on the right side, the prominent families’ young masters on the left, separated by a channel that was neither long nor short.
The weather was mild and sunny, with a gentle spring breeze, very comfortable.
On the male guests’ side, the seats were filled with noble heirs, sons of official and prominent families, even the Second Prince and Third Prince coming to join in the fun.
The two princes had already taken imperial consorts, so naturally no affinity with Princess Pingning. But today there were still high-door noble ladies who could serve as side imperial consorts for princes. If they could take a liking to one or two, it would be forming an alliance through marriage. Moreover, the beast taming performance was quite interesting; even if not for marriage, it was worth coming to see.
On the female guests’ side, Xie Wanning smiled leisurely, with Pei Yuxuan sitting right next to her.
The little commandery princess wore a bright red riding outfit that outlined her slender yet curvaceous figure. Her attire was as flamboyant and bright as usual, but her face was very calm and poised. As the person of the day for the husband selection, she showed no trace of the unease or shyness of a boudoir young lady.
At this time in the beast taming arena, after a simple warm-up performance, the beast tamers soon carried in a huge iron cage containing a fierce black bear with bared fangs.
The chief eunuch beside Princess Duanyang stood on the male guests’ side, flicking his whisk and bowing slightly, smiling as he asked the crowd: “I wonder if there are any brave warriors willing to enter the arena and capture or kill this beast?”
As soon as he said this, the somewhat noisy male guests’ side instantly fell silent.
Although they had long heard that Princess Duanyang wanted to select a husband with superior martial power for Princess Pingning, thus specially setting up this manor for a beast taming performance, no one expected they would have to personally enter and fight the fierce beast.
This was a fierce beast!
One misstep and it would mean bloodshed and death!
After waiting a few breaths with no one stepping forward, the eunuch said again: “Young masters need not worry. There are professional beast tamers watching in the arena, and countless guards on standby at any time. It’s just like hunting in an imperial enclosure; there will absolutely be no danger to life. If without confidence, young masters may enter together as companions.”
Princess Duanyang sat at the highest seat on the female guests’ side, smiling as she took over: “Those with outstanding performance will be awarded a rose, which they may offer to the young lady they fancy. If the young lady is willing to accept it, this palace will act as matchmaker for you.”
Behind her, two maidservants stepped forward holding trays, on which were freshly picked tender roses.
The Great Khan’s customs were open, with little distinction between men and women. In recent years, in the capital city, banquets named for flower viewing or lake outings but actually for noble young ladies and young masters to have arranged meetings were plentiful. But publicly offering flowers to express love like this was a first, let alone with Princess Duanyang personally promising to act as matchmaker.
However, for Princess Duanyang, those who received Pei Family invitations and came to the banquet today were all of similar family backgrounds. If a few marriages could be formed, it would be a joyous occasion.
With Princess Duanyang speaking, countless young masters with their heart’s desire in attendance were moved.
All were capital city famous family scions, of course familiar with imperial enclosure hunting. Hearing they could enter as a group to fight the beast, they truly had no more hesitations.
Soon, five men stood and stepped forward, cupping hands toward Princess Duanyang at the highest seat before entering the beast taming arena.
Now, the performance became truly exciting.
After all, the beast tamers’ shows, though bloody and terrifying, how could they compare to the thrill of peers entering to fight and kill? Moreover, with so many young ladies watching closely, perhaps including their heart’s desire— just thinking about it made the blood boil.
Xie Wanning also sat up straight, looking toward the beast taming arena with great interest.
Before marriage, she had followed her father and brothers to the imperial enclosure for hunts many times, mostly tagging along like a little tail by Lu Ziyan’s side, having seen him shoot down prey countless times.
But close-quarters combat like this, she had never seen.
Don’t think Lu Ziyan was mad beyond bounds; he actually had a steady temperament and wouldn’t do something like pitting raw strength against a fierce beast. He even wouldn’t let her watch others’ spectacles.
So this was Xie Wanning’s first time seeing such a performance. The five men in the arena were all just faces she had briefly met and wasn’t close with, but they seemed outmatched. Even five against one, it was still fraught with danger.
When the black bear’s claw tore two men’s clothes, exposing their bare upper bodies, many young ladies covered their mouths in screams, faces flushing with shame.
Yet no one was willing to look away, after all, the situation had reached the critical moment.
Sure enough, at the cost of two men’s clothes being torn, the other three seized the chance to surround and attack, one spear piercing the black bear’s eye. The black bear roared in pain, rolling and kicking up dust, then having its paws chopped off by two blades, soon breathing its last.
Cheers erupted from the viewing platform.
The five men exited the arena, with maidservants holding trays coming to greet them. They exchanged glances, their gazes turning this way, whispering something to the maidservants.
The young ladies’ cheers instantly quieted, many becoming uneasy. Soon, the maidservants with roses offered them as instructed, but among the young ladies receiving flowers, only one was willing to accept.
Among them, Pei Yuxuan received two, Cao Ying’er one, and the legitimate second daughter of Liujiang Marquis’s Estate also one. They all smiled and politely declined.
However, at least one marriage had been formed.
Even Princess Duanyang praised it several times as excellent.
Asking for monthly tickets at the beginning of the month~~
A little preemptive warning: the subsequent plot will be even more explosive ah~~~
Still that sentence: guaranteeing Wanwan stands undefeated in affection
My female lead loves only herself the most; only when Wanwan herself is satisfied does she have the leisure to love the male lead~
Let’s talk about the two male leads.
Lu Ziyan is annoying, but he’s just stubborn-mouthed, never sparing anyone with his words. As soon as our Wanwan’s eyes redden, he’d kneel on the spot to coax her. His actions seem domineering, but he actually doesn’t dare force too much, gains no benefits, and except for pushing his wife further away, gets nothing this lifetime.
While Pei Yuqing seems very weak, but look, he actually has everything: the nominal husband, and they’ve already consummated. With a little feigned weakness, Wanwan doesn’t stay angry long. He retreats to advance and has her completely in hand.
Watch what they do, not what they say~~
Of course, my favorite is Ji Chengfeng…
