The green-clad woman was taken aback by how strongly the young lady by the handsome young master’s side reacted.
After a brief pause, she laughed and said, “Little lady, you’re quite the jealous type. I was only joking with your husband…”
Shen Youran clung to Pei Huaijin’s arm and shot her a fierce glare before dragging him away in a huff.
Pei Huaijin lowered his eyes to look at the person holding his arm tightly and walking ahead without a word.
At the corners of his brows and eyes was a smile he hadn’t realized was there.
No one knew why she suddenly became so possessive of his arm.
By the time they reached home, she was already drunk and dazed, yet she still held on tightly, unwilling to let go.
Seeing her like this, barely able to walk, Pei Huaijin instructed Qingjian to drive the carriage to the back gate.
Then, with one arm, he lifted the drunken woman out of the carriage.
And so, he carried her, she clinging to his arm, in a rather awkward posture, back to the Yunzhi Courtyard.
He ordered Danruo and the others to prepare hot water and clean clothes since there was dust on her hair and clothes.
Even in her drunken state, she needed a proper bath.
“Still not letting go?”
Pei Huaijin waited briefly with her in the main hall, unsure if she could even hear him.
“If you don’t let go soon, maybe I’ll have to bathe with you.”
Fortunately, she still had some clarity.
Hearing this, she slowly loosened her grip.
The emptiness on his arm felt warm and soft no longer, and Pei Huaijin felt a touch of reluctance.
But she was still leaning against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder.
The scent of alcohol on her breath lightly brushed his neck, tickling him inside.
With a large hand, he cupped her delicate chin.
His lips, warm with the scent of alcohol, appeared right before her eyes.
He had wanted to kiss her since they were on the way to Fengle Pavilion, but she had refused.
Could he kiss her now?
His fingertip gently caressed her glossy, red lips.
Slightly careless, he parted those soft lips and saw a few pearly white teeth…
That time, when she was drugged and tried to grope him in the carriage, he stopped her unruly hands and she bit him with those very teeth.
His finger slid down a little more, then pressed gently, making her lips part further.
He could see the moist, rosy tip of her tongue inside.
His gaze lingered on that small mouth for a long moment before he finally closed it.
Enough — if he kissed her now and woke her, she would surely accuse him of taking advantage of her.
Qingjian came in and reported, “Young master, someone from Haitang Courtyard has come. They say the madam needs to see you.”
“Understood.”
It was likely that today’s incident at Changxing Manor had reached his mother’s ears.
She was probably calling him about Meng Wanxin’s matter.
“Tell them to send word that I’m busy and won’t be there for another two or three quarters of an hour.”
“Yes.”
After two quarters of an hour, Danruo came in and said the hot water was ready.
Qinghe also brought clean clothes.
Pei Huaijin carried the young lady into the washroom, handing Shen Youran over to the two maids.
Only then did he leave the courtyard and head toward his mother’s Haitang Courtyard.
Madam Zhu felt uneasy all day, sensing something was about to happen.
Besides asking Pei Huaijin to congratulate Changxing Manor, she had prepared a separate gift to send.
Before it was fully dark, the messenger she sent returned, reporting that a sudden flood had occurred in the backyard of Changxing Manor, abruptly ending the wedding halfway.
The burned courtyard was where a maid named Mei Niang died in the fire, and Lin Wulang was said to have gone mad, clutching the charred corpse.
Zhu Shi’s heart chilled.
Long before Meng Wanxin wished to marry Lin Wulang, she had heard rumors about Lin Wulang keeping a Tongfang mistress and had warned Wanxin that he was not a man to trust for a lifetime.
But Wanxin hadn’t listened and blindly married him.
Now with this tragedy, that marriage would likely never continue.
Since Mei Niang had served her for two years, Zhu Shi treated the girl almost like a daughter.
Naturally, she couldn’t stand by and do nothing.
So she sent word to Yunzhi Courtyard, asking Pei Huaijin to come discuss Meng Wanxin’s situation.
But the messenger quickly returned, saying the eldest son and his wife hadn’t come back yet.
Perhaps their carriage had been delayed.
Zhu Shi had to calm herself and waited two more quarters of an hour before sending someone again, only to receive the same answer.
Why hadn’t they returned?
Weren’t the guests at Changxing Manor already gone? If he wasn’t going home, where else could he be?
Zhu Shi grew frantic with worry, but there was nothing she could do without their return.
She sent someone to wait near Yunzhi Courtyard and instructed them to notify her as soon as the eldest son arrived.
An hour later, news finally came: “Madam, the eldest son is back but says he’s still busy and will take another two or three quarters of an hour.”
“What could be more important than Wanxin’s matter at this hour?”
Zhu Shi fretted, but had no choice.
When her eldest son finally arrived, she unleashed all her pent-up anger at him.
“Where have you been? Your cousin’s in such a mess, and you didn’t stay at Changxing Manor to stand up for her. If you were going to leave, why not come back earlier and tell me?”
“Mother, please calm down,” Pei Huaijin’s calm tone was almost detached, as if he were an outsider—which, to be fair, he considered himself at the moment.
“I informed her family as soon as I left the manor. They left not long ago and will be back soon to help her make decisions. I’m only a distant cousin. It’s not proper for me to interfere.”
“Though distant by blood, she’s served you dutifully for two years. Out of gratitude, you shouldn’t abandon her.”
“I was assigned to Lingzhou three years ago and couldn’t serve you directly, but where does the idea that Wanxin served me come from? She’s only been living here at the manor out of goodwill to serve you, which is unrelated to me. Please don’t confuse those two matters.”
His reasonable tone silenced Zhu Shi for a moment. She was so angry that she didn’t respond.
“All right, now’s not the time to argue about filial piety.”
“Tomorrow, you’re coming with me to Changxing Manor. I heard that Lin Wulang’s Tongfang maid died, and he’s acting like he’s lost his mind. Wanxin married such a man by sheer bad luck. Whether this marriage succeeds or fails, Changxing Manor owes her an explanation.”
Pei Huaijin had just told her he was an outsider and didn’t want to meddle in matters between the Meng and Lin families.
It seemed his mother hadn’t listened at all.
He didn’t bother repeating himself and said, “I have other business tomorrow. If you want to go to Changxing Manor, I’m afraid I can’t accompany you.”
“What other business do you have tomorrow?”
“I’m going to Xiao Fu,” Pei Huaijin replied.
“Youran’s health has recovered. I’m taking her to invite Xiao Gugu back to continue her lessons.”
Zhu Shi thought it was something important.
Hearing this, she almost laughed in frustration.
“Your cousin is in the middle of a crisis, and you’re thinking about inviting Xiao Gugu back to teach your lady? Don’t you know which is more important?”
“I do know which is more important,” Pei Huaijin said.
“And I hope you can tell which is nearer or farther. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”
Zhu Shi was furious and pointed at him.
“One day, you’re going to drive me to an early grave…”
“I don’t intend to anger you. Since you get angry so often, you should look inward more often.”
Zhu Shi: “…Get lost, get lost, get lost!”
Having already left, Pei Huaijin went to Ciyou Courtyard.
The study window was lit.
Shen Yunshu was reading with Pei Huaian inside.
Pei Huaijin called Shen Yunshu out to say a few words in the courtyard.
“There was a sudden fire at Changxing Manor today. My seventh brother was frightened. Be careful tonight. I worry he’ll have nightmares…”
“I heard about it, but he said Youran was the one who was scared.”
“Youran was unharmed and is fine now. Seventh brother experienced a fire in childhood that left a shadow on his heart. He doesn’t realize it himself. Seeing the fire today caused him to faint briefly.”
“I understand. Thank you for the reminder, big brother. I’ll keep an eye on him tonight.”
“Good.”
Pei Huaijin glanced at the study window and praised her, “You’ve done well managing him.”
“He’s come to his senses by himself, determined to improve.”
Pei Huaijin didn’t spare praise: “That only happened after you arrived. You’ve worked hard.”
“It’s what a sister-in-law should do.”
“Go ahead. No need to see me out.”
“Alright.”
The winter night was silent, the courtyard lit here and there.
When Pei Huaijin returned to Yunzhi Courtyard, he saw Qinghe leading a sturdier maid toward the washroom.
“What’s the matter?” he asked Qinghe.
“Is she not done bathing?”
“The young mistress fell asleep in the tub and won’t wake no matter what. The two of us can’t carry her out.”
Pei Huaijin glanced at the sturdy maid but doubted even she could lift the slippery young lady out of the tub, so he said, “I’ll go.”
Qinghe widened her eyes slightly but didn’t say more.
She had the maid leave and followed him into the washroom.
Inside, the dragon root was burning on the floor, a brazier was lit — warm and humid, steam filled the air.
Once his eyes adjusted to the mist, Pei Huaijin quickly spotted the tub.
The person in the tub rested her head against its edge, face up, sleeping innocently.
The considerate maid had placed a cloth under her neck to prevent soreness.
Her dense black hair draped over the tub’s side.
Her fair neck arched beautifully, tracing a graceful curve.
Closer inspection revealed her injured hand resting on the tub’s edge, her smooth white skin glistening as the warm water nourished her.
The water was neither deep nor shallow, rippling gently below her delicate collarbones.
The water was clear enough to glimpse glimpses of the beauty beneath.
Pei Huaijin had no intention of spying, so he looked away and removed his outer robe to avoid soiling her.
When Danruo and Qinghe prepared the towels, he bent down and lifted the young lady from the tub.
The water’s soft splashing sounded like raising a piece of exquisite warm jade.
Though he deliberately looked away, his peripheral vision caught glimpses he shouldn’t have — pale skin, gentle curves, and slender lines.
The moment she was lifted, Danruo quickly covered her with a wide towel.
Pei Huaijin wrapped her with the towel and carried her to the soft couch.
One maid wrung out her hair while the other dried her body.
The young lady, still comfortably asleep, showed no signs of waking.
Since she was out of the water, Pei Huaijin didn’t linger.
“If she’s still asleep later, wake me in the study.”
Both maids agreed.
He grabbed his outer robe and left the warm washroom.
Though he had only been there briefly, sweat had broken out over his body.
About half an hour later, Danruo came to the study.
The young lady was still asleep.
He told Danruo to fetch the crane cloak his seventh brother had given her.
Wrapping the still-sleeping woman tightly, he carried her back to the bedroom.
Like a water-soaked lotus flower, her jade-like skin and rosy lips made her look vividly radiant.
Pei Huaijin had always known his wife was beautiful; otherwise, no other young men would pay her any attention.
But tonight, she seemed even more breathtaking.
Her closed eyes, long overlapping lashes, the elegant curve of her nose, the glossy lips, even a stray lock of black hair at her forehead—each detail was mesmerizing.
He had intended to put her down and read in the study, but for the first time, the books felt dull and uninteresting compared to the sleeping beauty before him.
Only when Qingjian knocked and said, “Young master, the water has been changed,” did Pei Huaijin realize how long he had been staring at her.
After his bath and freshening up, Qinghe brought him a bowl of sobering soup, saying it had been simmering since the afternoon when they left the manor.