Translator note: Previously I kept Qu Zhao’s title as Qu-shaoqing. Now it will be translated to Deputy Minister Qu. Figure people might confuse all these titles with actual names despite the footnote. I’ll only keep Pei-wenshu the same. Why? Cuz it’s too much to go back and change everything orz
Chapter 51: Furious
The night breeze rustled, carrying the scent of the rose-covered wall.
Yu Shaoyun had gone for a walk with Little King, and Yuan Fang hadn’t returned yet. The Crown Prince reached out and steadied Pei Xiting’s swaying head. The soft hair under his palm tickled him.
After letting Pei Xiting hug him for a while, the Crown Prince finally said, “Someone.”
A shadow guard landed behind the Crown Prince, respectfully saying, “Your Highness.”
“Take him to the room,” the Crown Prince said.
The shadow guard responded with a sound and went forward to help Pei Xiting, but Pei Xiting shook his head, refusing to be taken away. He clung to the Crown Prince’s arm, and the more the guard tried to assist, the tighter Pei Xiting held on, yet His Highness didn’t pull his hand away.
The shadow guard was momentarily at a loss, asking, “Your Highness, this…”
There were many ways, of course, just a little force would do, but who didn’t know that Pei-wenshu was favored by His Highness, who was exceptionally lenient towards him? How dared he hurt the man?
The Crown Prince looked at the person clinging to his arm, refusing to let go, then turned his head to look at the row of clothes belonging to two people drying on the bamboo pole. He suddenly asked, “Who am I?”
The shadow guard didn’t understand why His Highness asked this, but Pei Xiting answered with great certainty, “That… guy with the surname Zong!”
This answer was disrespectful and offensive. The shadow guard’s eyelids twitched, but then he heard His Highness chuckle lightly, as if amused. He then bent down, wrapped his arms around Pei Xiting’s waist, and lifted him horizontally.
This was utterly shocking. The shadow guard took half a step back in a daze, feeling like he had discovered a huge secret.
Was His Highness and Pei-wenshu actually in such a relationship?!
The Crown Prince didn’t reprimand his subordinate’s obvious astonishment. He carried Pei Xiting towards the sleeping quarters. He gently kicked open the door, glanced around, turned left, walked to the couch by the window, and bent down to lay Pei Xiting on it. Just as he was about to step back, Pei Xiting reached out and wrapped his arms around his neck.
This reckless embrace caused the Crown Prince to lean forward, burying his face in Pei Xiting’s shoulder. His nose was filled with Pei Xiting’s scent, mixed with the faint fragrance of osmanthus wine, which was surprisingly intoxicating.
“…” The Crown Prince held his breath for a moment, supporting himself on the couch with his left hand, slightly tilted his head, and said, “Pei Xiting.”
As his backside touched the bamboo mat, the warmth in his arms was about to pull away. Pei Xiting was unwilling to be separated, reaching out to hug and rubbed against the Crown Prince’s neck again. Hearing the words, he “hmm-ed,” and mumbled drunkenly, “Don’t go.”
Out of consideration for the drunkard, the Crown Prince didn’t immediately push Pei Xiting away, saying, “Why?”
“I don’t want you to go!” The true nature of a drunken Pei Xiting emerged. He arrogantly wrapped his arms around the Crown Prince’s neck and shoulders, rubbing his hair and complaining softly, “It’s one thing to reject me, but even in my dreams, you still want to leave. Are you even human?”
In his dreams? Did Pei Xiting often dream of him? The Crown Prince was stunned, unsure how to react.
At this moment, Pei Xiting smiled wickedly, “Heh heh, you were much more passionate a few times before. Why are you so cold today? Let me tell you, I don’t fall for this ‘playing hard to get’ trick… Hey, actually, I do.”
“…”
The Crown Prince finally understood what kind of fire-reducing medicine Pei Xiting was taking.
“Pour a glass of water,” the Crown Prince gave order to the shadow guard who stood outside the door, not daring to enter. He reached up and patted the “chains” around his neck, “If you keep this up, my waist will get tired.”
What kind of big tailed wolf are you pretending to be? “Pei Xiting didn’t believe it and whispered,” Your waist is so fierce. I keep screaming, but you didn’t stop.”
“…” The Crown Prince closed his eyes and took a breath, believing that someone like Pei Xiting should avoid getting drunk. He already had a loose tongue, and when he drank too much, he would say all sorts of vulgarities.
“Let go.”
“No!”
Negotiation failed. The Crown Prince wrapped his arms around Pei Xiting’s waist and effortlessly lifted him.
Pei Xiting cried out, kicked his legs, and clung to this “big tree” with both hands and feet like a monkey hugging a tree. The Crown Prince had originally wanted to move him to another spot so they could sit down and talk properly, but now he was held even tighter, leaving him speechless for a moment.
Then, Pei Xiting felt his backside touch something warm and hard. He was sitting on the Crown Prince’s lap.
The shadow guard entered with water, and upon unexpectedly witnessing this scene, immediately closed his eyes. He quickly delivered the water to the Crown Prince’s hand, turned, and left, closing the door behind him.
The Crown Prince held the cup to Pei Xiting’s lips, “Drink it.”
Pei Xiting shook his head, saying, “You feed me.”
The Crown Prince said, “Am I not feeding you right now?”
Pei Xiting buried his face in the Crown Prince’s neck, muffled, “You used to feed me with your mouth.”
He was quite unhappy, quite aggrieved, and quite incredulous. “Why are you so out of tune today?” The Crown Prince also truly hadn’t expected himself to be so “in tune” in Pei Xiting’s dreams. He patiently said, “I was poisoned today. I can’t touch you with my mouth, or you’ll be poisoned too. Be good and drink the water.”
“What!” Pei Xiting was startled. If the Crown Prince hadn’t been quick to dodge, the cup would have been knocked flying.
The Crown Prince let out a breath, wondering if he should tie the person up, when he was suddenly gripped by two soft, warm hands on his cheeks. That flushed face suddenly moved closer to examine him, and those damp eyes immediately turned red.
“Who poisoned you? Who?!” Pei Xiting was furious. “Why are you still acting so tough when you’re poisoned? Tell me, I’ll go find the antidote for you! I’ll beat the culprit who poisoned you into human meatballs!”
The Crown Prince: “…”
It was clear that this person had been very immersed in his dreams before, but when the Crown Prince looked at his moist red eyes and trembling lips, and listened to him curse himself and the poisoner, a warmth still surged in his heart.
“I was teasing you,” the Crown Prince said softly, “It’s nothing.”
Pei Xiting stared at him intently, then suddenly released his hands and said, “You just don’t want to kiss me! Damn it, you even came into my dreams and still play coy, do you think I’m dead? Spoiled rotten!”
After speaking, Pei Xiting stood up and grabbed the Crown Prince to send off the guests. However, with a messy gait, the Crown Prince didn’t move a single bit. Instead, Pei Xiting landed on his backside on the carpet, falling over and rolling his eyes before passing out.
“…”
The Crown Prince put down the water cup, sighed almost imperceptibly, and then picked the person up again and placed him on the couch. This time, the person didn’t cling to him, staying still. But in his heart, a faint sense of loss welled up.
Before he could fully savor this strange and unsettling emotion, there was a sudden disturbance outside the door.
The shadow guard, no longer pondering His Highness’s romantic endeavors, drew his blade and knocked the lurking figure in the straw hat off the eaves. He sternly said, “Who are you, lurking rat? Come out!”
Upon seeing the shadow guard, the straw-hatted figure instantly understood who was inside the room and turned to run. But the next moment, he turned back, knelt with his head bowed in the courtyard, and said, “This humble servant, Hu Shun’er from the Immortal Corridor, bows before His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Long live His Highness, may he live for thousands of years!”
Inside the room, the Crown Prince was taking off Pei Xiting’s short boots. As he withdrew his hand, he suddenly remembered something, and gripped Pei Xiting’s right ankle again. His thumb brushed against the sock, sliding it down a bit. Only when he saw that the injury had almost healed did he withdraw his hand.
Pei Xiting was thin, and his ankle was white, delicate, and smooth, like a piece of fine silk. The tip of his thumb, which touched the flesh, felt faintly hot, but the Crown Prince did not let go and only looked up at the oblivious Pei Xiting.
The night wind howled outside the window. After an unknown amount of time, the Crown Prince withdrew his obscure gaze, pulled up Pei Xiting’s sock, and released his hand.
He got up and went to the bed to get a thin quilt when something underneath it fell to the floor: a finely bound thin book titled ‘Night Records of Pomegranate Flowers.’ A bookmark clipped within one of the pages also slipped out a bit.
“–You do not know.”
It was Pei Xiting’s handwriting.
The Crown Prince looked at a corner of the bookmark, leaned down, and pulled it down further. The two hidden words finally revealed themselves.
“Heart’s delight.”
—My heart delights in you, but you do not know.
Pei Xiting had diligently copied the “Song of the Yue Boatman” a hundred times, and the Crown Prince had checked it a hundred times, word for word. But when these two words came into view, the Crown Prince was taken aback.
The room was silent for a long time. The Crown Prince pushed the bookmark back, picked up the book and put it back on the bed, then turned back to the couch and covered Pei Xiting with the thin quilt.
That sleeping face was serene and beautiful. The Crown Prince watched for a long time before turning and leaving the room.
Hu Shun’er didn’t dare to look up. He heard the soft click of the door closing, followed by the Crown Prince’s voice: “How has Buzhi been lately?”
“Replying to Your Highness, master is well,” Hu Shun’er licked his lips and deliberated, “This humble one bears no ill will towards Pei-wenshu. I merely wish to bring him back to the Southwest.”
The Crown Prince descended the steps, saying, “What did Buzhi instruct you?”
Hu Shun’er got up and followed the Crown Prince, saying, “Master said as long as he doesn’t lose any limbs, it’s fine.”
The shadow guard stepped forward and opened the door. The Crown Prince stepped out, saying calmly, “You are no match for Yuan Fang. How then will you make him lose limbs?”
“This… what you say is true,” Hu Shun’er said wistfully, “Then where do I go from here? I beg Your Highness to show me a clear path.”
The Crown Prince boarded the carriage, saying calmly, “Go back and tell your master that he has found a job in Yejing and is living happily. If he is unwilling to even lose a limb, then it’s better to let him live freely.”
Hu Shun’er smiled awkwardly, “Master spent two or three years looking for him. How can he let him go?”
“Then let your master figure out whether he must bring the person back at any cost. Before he could, the person will stay here, under my watch. Nothing major will happen,” the Crown Prince lifted the curtain and glanced indifferently at Hu Shun’er. “Your family matters, you can deal with them however you like, but don’t accidentally harm my people.”
Hu Shun’er’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, “Your Highness, rest assured, how dare I lay a hand on Pei-wenshu? I’m not asking for a reward, but I previously helped Pei-wenshu deal with several waves of rats secretly spying on him!”
The Crown Prince “hmm-ed,” and casually took a bag of gold ingots from a box, tossing it to Hu Shun’er. He said, “I’ve settled Pei-wenshu’s wages. Tomorrow, go to the Longhe Division and bring two pots of osmanthus wine for your master.”
“Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!” Hu Shun’er gratefully thanked him with a cheerful face. After seeing the carriage depart, he jingled the money bag and slipped away.
But just as he turned the corner, a figure appeared in front of him.
Hu Shun’er tucked the money into his bosom and said warily, “Don’t you dare touch me, I just took an assignment from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!”
Yuan Fang rolled his eyes and said, “When you go back, don’t come again. The next time I see you, I’ll kill you directly.”
“Then you might as well kill me now, because I won’t have a good life when I go back anyway!” Hu Shun’er had been traveling over mountains and seas for the past two years to find someone, wearing out his feet. He finally found them, but the person wouldn’t return. Running back and forth between Yejing and the Southwest for this long, he might as well change his profession from assassin to writing travelogues!
He stared at Yuan Fang, gritting his teeth, “If you’re brave enough, don’t hide! Come back with me and tell the master to his face!”
“I’m not brave, I don’t dare,” Yuan Fang said honestly, “So I can only make things difficult for you. This is your fault, if you hadn’t found me, you wouldn’t have been troubled by me, right?”
“…” Hu Shun’er pressed his philtrum.
Yuan Fang was unapologetic. He pulled out a wad of silver notes from his chest and handed them over, saying earnestly, “The kindness of upbringing and nurturing cannot be repaid. This money is what I’ve earned over the years. Take it back and tell the corridor master for me that I’m very happy as an attendant in Yejing, and the young master treats me very well. Please ask him to release me. Of course, I will send back all the money I earn in the future to the Immortal Corridor.”
Hu Shun’er looked at the stack of silver notes, then at Yuan Fang, and said seriously, “Are you trying to infuriate the master to death?”
“The corridor master won’t be easily angered to death,” Yuan Fang retorted.
“Yes, compared to being angered to death by you, the master is more likely to kill you in a fit of rage,” Hu Shun’er smiled. “After all, you even got involved in the matter of Po Yinlin.”
Yuan Fang frowned, “I didn’t know about it beforehand. The young master has already explained it to the Crown Prince for me, and the Crown Prince didn’t kill me.”
“That’s because of the master’s reputation. His Royal Highness considered this our family matter, letting us discipline our own child!” Hu Shun’er snatched the silver notes and stuffed them into his chest, sneering, “I advise you to quickly come back with me now and explain, apologize, and beg for mercy from the master, otherwise you just wait!”
“I can’t leave here,” Yuan Fang said.
“Why… oh,” Hu Shun’er turned, pointed in the direction of the courtyard, and seeing Yuan Fang didn’t object, he couldn’t help but sigh. “With His Royal Highness protecting him, does Pei-wenshu still need you?”
Yuan Fang was unmoved, only saying, “The Crown Prince’s thoughts are as deep as an abyss. I’m not at ease.”
Hu Shun’er heard this and laughed incredulously, “How long have you and Pei Xiting known each other? You’ve already given your heart away?”
Yuan Fang was too lazy to explain, resorting to Pei Xiting’s ultimate dismissive move: “None of your business.”
Hu Shun’er didn’t dare to retort. Seeing that persuasion was useless, he sneered, shook his head, and walked away with his chest puffed out.
*
The next day, when Pei Xiting woke up, he rolled over and fell to the ground unexpectedly.
Yuan Fang pushed the door open and entered.
Pei Xiting lay spread-eagled on the carpet, wailing, “How did I end up sleeping here?”
Yuan Fang didn’t help him up. He held a broom and swept the room, saying, “Who knows? The Crown Prince probably tossed you here.”
“The Cro…” Pei Xiting pursed his lips, blinked, rubbed his head, then rolled onto his back on the floor, staring at the ceiling for a while. He finally remembered that he had indeed been drinking with the Crown Prince last night.
It seemed he had been completely drunk.
“I didn’t cause any trouble while drunk, did I?” Pei Xiting was still concerned about his image in front of his crush.
“I don’t know, I was stopped by Yu Shaoyun and the little tiger outside. I sat under the tree for a long time, and when I came back, you were sleeping like a dead pig.” Yuan Fang swept a circle around Pei Xiting with the broom.
Pei Xiting lay on the ground like a “stubborn nail in the trash,” saying, “Why did Commander Yu stop you?”
Yuan Fang shrugged, “He said the Crown Prince was having a private conversation, and idlers were not allowed to disturb.”
“Alright,” Pei Xiting scratched his head. “Fang, I feel like I’ve forgotten something.”
“Of course you forgot something,” Yuan Fang said from above. “You are on duty today, but it’s already late Si period[mfn] Around 11 am[/mfn]——”
Before he finished speaking, the “stubborn nail” finally got up.
Pei Xiting washed up and got ready. He didn’t even ask for food and was preparing to leave. Before leaving, he said, “Didn’t I order two pairs of earrings near the Mandarin Duck Pavilion before? The time should be about right. If you have nothing to do later, go pick them up for me and give them to Qing Lingling next door.”
Yuan Fang acknowledged.
Pei Xiting went to the government office. Fortunately, the document building didn’t require roll call, otherwise Chief Lu and Pei-wenshu would have half a page filled with red crosses.
Lu Mang, with dark circles under his eyes, was drinking porridge behind his desk. Seeing Pei Xiting arrive, he looked up listlessly and couldn’t help but say, “I still have a bowl of porridge here. I went to the kitchen to get it. Would you like it?”
“Yes.” Pei Xiting took a small stool and sat opposite Lu Mang. He opened the food box and saw a bowl of osmanthus porridge inside, with a small plate of sugar paste next to it. He didn’t add sugar. The porridge was fragrant, and after one mouthful, some of the discomfort from drinking disappeared.
A piece of paper was placed beside Lu Mang’s hand. Pei Xiting immediately noticed the names of medicinal herbs and asked with concern, “Chief Lu, are you sick?”
“Just a bit of a sore throat. I happened to meet Dr. Su at the East Palace this morning, so I got a prescription from him. I’ll go get the medicine later,” Lu Mang said.
Pei Xiting’s thumb, holding the spoon, paused. He asked, “Dr. Su went to the East Palace this morning to take the Crown Prince’s pulse?”
“Probably not. Dr. Su usually goes to the East Palace at the beginning and end of each month to take His Highness’s pulse for well-being,” Lu Mang said.
Was His Highness ill, or was it for some other reason? Pei Xiting put the spoon into his mouth and hastily swallowed the porridge.
Pei Xiting kept this matter in mind. After getting off work early, he prepared to go next door to ask Dr. Su, but Dr. Su wasn’t home. However, Pei family’s servant was waiting in front of the closed courtyard gate.
The servant waited until the person arrived, then stepped forward to bow, saying, “Third Young Master, Madam asks you to return home.”
Pei Xiting was not keen on wasting time returning to the Pei family. He asked, “What is it?”
“This humble one does not know,” the servant said awkwardly, looking at Pei Xiting. “In any case, there’s something to discuss, otherwise I wouldn’t have come to bother you.”
Pei Xiting said nothing, followed the servant into the carriage, and rode all the way back to the Pei mansion. Upon entering the flower hall, he found that besides Wang-shi, Bu Suying and Pei Yan were also there.
Bu Suying looked at him with a worried expression. Pei Xiting nodded in response, stood still in the hall, and bowed, saying, “Father, Madam.”
Wang-shi looked at Pei Xiting, nodded slightly, and waved her hand, saying, “Have a seat.”
Pei Xiting sat on Bu Suying’s left, waiting for Wang-shi to speak.
“I called you back today because there’s a joyous matter to discuss with you,” Wang-shi said.
Don’t tell me it’s another arranged marriage. Pei Xiting thought to himself. And indeed it was. This engagement wasn’t with anyone else, but Wang-shi’s own niece.
Pei Yan looked at his son’s indifferent expression, finding him surprisingly unfamiliar. He pondered and said, “Vice Vice Minister Wang[mfn]His title is “寺丞” (sì chéng) generally translates to “Assistant Minister” or “Vice Minister” within a specific “Court” or “Ministry”. In this case, he works for the Dali Temple.[/mfn] is a colleague of mine in court, and also my father-in-law. Both families know each other well and are well-matched. If this can be achieved, it would be a closer connection.”
Pei Xiting was impatient and asked, “May I ask who proposed this?”
“Vice Minister Wang told me that he values you greatly. After I returned home and discussed it with your mother, we both felt it was a good match, which is why we called you here to discuss it,” Pei Yan said.
“Since it’s a discussion, then I’ll speak frankly,” Pei Xiting looked back at Pei Yan. “Your son does not agree.”
Wang-shi frowned, “Why?”
Pei Xiting was too lazy to elaborate, stating directly, “I don’t know this Miss Wang at all, nor do I like her. I don’t want to marry her.”
Wang-shi said, “Marriage has always been decided by parents and matchmakers. How can your personal feelings dictate it?”
“So, you two weren’t discussing this with me today, but informing me?” Pei Xiting swept his gaze over Wang-shi, his eyes landing on Pei Yan’s face. “Alright, then I won’t talk about personal feelings. Let’s talk about ‘public’ matters. Since Father has been an official with Vice Minister Wang for many years, you must know better than I do that Vice Minister Wang is not very highly regarded in the Dali Temple[mfn] I think I have a footnote for this once already, but I don’t remember so here we go again. In imperial China, the Dali Temple (大理寺) was a crucial central government agency responsible for judicial review, legal interpretation, and the final adjudication of major criminal cases. It played a vital role in the administration of justice.[/mfn], especially after Deputy Minister Qu took office, he has become increasingly dissatisfied with him.”
Pei Yan naturally knew and said, “The appointment of officials in the court comes from the Ministry of Personnel, which has a central position. Deput Minister Qu’s personal likes and dislikes do not affect anything.”
“Is it personal preference? Don’t forget, Deputy Minister Qu is Empress Qu’s nephew, the Crown Prince’s cousin, and a close minister of the East Palace. During his years at the Dali Temple, how could the Crown Prince not pay attention? Since he pays attention, he knows his so-called personal likes and dislikes. If His Highness feels that Deputy Minister Qu has slighted his seniors and former superiors, would he not offer more guidance?”
Pei Xiting spoke unhurriedly, making his point clearly. Pei Yan stroked the armrest, pondering.
He naturally knew that Vice Minister Wang wanted to place his bet on Pei Xiting, gambling on his future bright prospects. Marriage alliances, considering each other’s prosperity, were understandable. He had originally thought that the Wang family was a relative, and thus more profound than other families. In any case, the Pei family couldn’t marry into royalty, so the Wang family was a decent choice. But now that Pei Xiting had brought this up, he couldn’t help but hesitate. A closer family connection was fine if there was no benefit, but if it led to trouble, that would be bad.
“Vice Minister Wang has reached his limit in the Dali Temple. Even if someone falls down in the future, it won’t be his turn to climb up. It’s not for anything else—” Pei Xiting said regretfully, “His ability is insufficient. Relying solely on years of service is simply not enough power.”
He spoke bluntly about Vice Minister Wang’s incompetence in front of Wang-shi. How could Wang-shi tolerate it? She said in a deep voice, “Even if the Wang family stops here, they are certainly not latching onto you. Don’t think that just because you entered the Longhe Division, you can instantly ascend to heaven.”
“Instantly ascending to heaven is a stretch, but a boundless future is certainly possible.” Pei Xiting’s smile was gentle, but his tone was sharp. “Even if I have to rely on my wife’s family for status and live a comfortable life, the Wang family’s meals are not expensive enough.”
Wang-shi slammed the table and stood up, fuming, “You wicked child, have you no shame!”
Pei Xiting grabbed Bu Suying, who was getting up to intercede, and still smiled, “What is shame compared to wealth? Besides, Madam, why are you so anxious? If I were to marry into a powerful family in the future, wouldn’t our Pei family also rise in status? I just wonder, in Madam’s heart, which is more important, the Pei family or the Wang family?”
Pei Yan was a scholar and couldn’t stand such blunt talk. Hearing this, he frowned and reprimanded, “Xiting, don’t talk nonsense.”
“Father, don’t be angry.” Pei Xiting glanced at Wang-shi, then smiled at Pei Yan. “Your son is merely afraid that Madam might be deceived by her maiden family, harming our Pei family’s prosperity and future for the benefit of the Wang family.”
Wang-shi had seen her mother a few days ago, and naturally heard about her father’s awkward situation in the Dali Temple. At that time, her mother had also told her about this marriage proposal. After several days of thought, a closer connection between the two families was indeed good. She would take care of the Wang family’s daughter after she married into the Pei family. Later, when she was old, she would also have a caring companion, and more importantly, Pei Xiting’s legitimate wife and children would all have Wang blood, so it would be impossible to cut ties with the Wang family in the future. They would inevitably share honor and disgrace.
Wang-shi indeed had selfish motives. Hearing this, she felt a little guilty. Seeing that this wicked child dared to sow discord between her and her husband, she became angry out of shame and exclaimed, “Talking back, speaking nonsense, disrespecting elders! Someone, restrain the Third Young Master and carry out the family punishment!”
“I’d like to see who dares!” Pei Xiting looked sideways, and the servants immediately stopped, not daring to advance.
Wang-shi saw this and said, “Pei Xiting, are you going to defy filial piety?!”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Pei Xiting said. “But may I ask, Madam, what has Xiting done wrong? Was it wrong to speak the truth and make Madam feel awkward and guilty? Then I truly apologize. Xiting, after all, is surnamed Pei, and still needs to consider the Pei family.”
Pei Yan heard this and looked at Wang-shi, saying, “Madam, just speak. Why use family punishment? If colleagues from the Longhe Division saw this, wouldn’t it be embarrassing?”
“Master, he’s just a secretary and already so disobedient. If he really gets promoted and becomes successful in the future, will he still hold us in his eyes? He’ll probably have forgotten his roots long ago!” Wang-shi saw Pei Yan’s gaze waver and then said earnestly, “It’s fine to make mistakes at home, but if we let him be arrogant and cause trouble outside, it will be too late when the Pei family is implicated!”
These words struck a chord with Pei Yan.
Pei Yan knew that he had been cold to Bu Suying over the years and hadn’t cared much about Pei Xiting. Did the mother and son harbor resentment? Now that Pei Xiting was pursuing his own path, and his personality was completely different from before, he probably wouldn’t take him seriously anymore. Moreover, he had been an official for half his life, becoming increasingly cautious, most afraid of offending someone outside and making mistakes.
Seeing Pei Yan fall silent, Wang-shi sneered, then turned and ordered the servants to seize Pei Xiting and carry out the family punishment.
Seeing that the master had tacitly approved, the servants no longer dared to disobey Madam’s orders and rushed forward to seize Pei Xiting. Pei Xiting naturally wouldn’t surrender without a fight. He grabbed Bu Suying’s teacup and smashed it on the head of the servant in front, then turned to walk out, but was hugged around the waist by two servants who rushed up, temporarily unable to break free.
“He’s rebelling against the heavens!” Wang-shi pointed at Pei Xiting, “Beat him directly! Make him kneel and apologize!”
The servants heard this and swung their rattan canes, whipping at Pei Xiting’s back. Pei Xiting was unable to dodge and took a blow. Then Bu Suying rushed forward, shielding him with her back, taking two blows for him.
The rattan cane was half the thickness of a wrist, tied together with red silk, and struck down with full force, causing considerable pain. Bu Suying grunted but still clung to Pei Xiting. Not only did she shield Pei Xiting, but she also tried to pull him back, extending her slender wrist to push away the servants holding Pei Xiting. Seeing that she couldn’t push them, she brazenly opened her mouth and bit one of the servants’ wrists. Pei Yan stood up in shock, staring incredulously at the disheveled, maddened Bu Suying.
“You, you all…” Wang-shi was also startled and said sternly, “Seize Bu-shi!”
“Thump!” Pei Xiting slammed his head into one of the servants’ heads, causing the man to stumble backward. Pei Xiting also retreated a few steps, dragging the remaining servants to the ground.
The world spun, his ears rang. Pei Xiting crawled up from the ground, ignoring everything and rushing forward to grab the white figure charging at him, shielding the person behind him. He then swung a chair nearby, smashing it forward. The servants cried out and retreated. He then picked up a small tea table, turned, and threw it towards the long table between Wang-shi and Pei Yan.
The long table swayed, finally falling forward with a “bang.”
Pei Yan was a scholar, and Wang-shi was also a young lady from a prominent family. They had never witnessed such a reckless fighting style, throwing whatever he could lay his hand on. Both were momentarily stunned and shocked.
In the midst of the chaotic silence, Pei Xiting lifted his leg and stepped onto the long table near his feet. He pulled out the dagger from his boot, his eyes cold, “Come on.”
