Chapter 65: She slid under the table while holding the book

Pei Huaijin had been dispatched to Suizhou to oversee grain supplies. After uncovering that the local granary supervisor was embezzling supplies and reporting this to the court, he incurred retaliation from the other party. On his return to the capital, he was ambushed and sustained some injuries, which delayed his journey.

After handing over the matter at the government office, he hurried to the Shen residence to see her. He originally wanted to give her a surprise, so he instructed the gatekeeper to notify her. But when he came looking for her, she was alone with Liang Xu. Peering closer, he overheard Liang Xu brazenly trying to steal her away.

Not only was Liang pushing for a divorce, but he was also spreading rumors that Pei suffered from a hidden illness that made him incapable of conjugal relations?

Pei Huaijin could no longer bear it. Stepping out from behind a tree, he declared, “Liang Xu, how could Pei not know that he suffers from a hidden illness?”

The two startled upon hearing his voice from the other side of the tree.

However, after the initial shock, Shen Youran’s surprise soon turned to joy. She opened her arms to hug him, but since Liang was still there, she felt it inappropriate to show such intimacy in front of a third party. Instead, she grabbed his arm. “You’re back! Why did you come back so late?”

“Encountered some delays on the road; that’s why I’m late.” Pei lowered his eyes toward her, his gaze filled with warmth. But when he looked up at Liang Xu, his eyes turned icy cold. “Liang Xu, coveting another man’s wife is hardly the way of a gentleman.”

“Apologies, Pei Xu,” Liang felt ashamed for badmouthing someone behind their back, but since the words were already out, he took the chance to advise, “But I still hope Pei Xu won’t waste Shen lady’s time.”

“I wonder where you heard those rumors that I suffer from a hidden illness?”

“That day at the clinic, I heard it with my own ears.”

Shen Youran saw the conviction on Liang Xu’s face and it didn’t seem like he was lying. But Pei Huaijin didn’t seem like a man with a hidden ailment at all?

Her gaze darted between them, and Shen Youran found herself utterly confused.

“It must be that you misheard, Liang Xu. I am very healthy.” Pei pulled the doubtful woman close to him and flashed a cold smile at Liang. “Once we have a child, we will definitely invite you to the full-month banquet.”

Liang Xu inwardly disbelieved this: which man would ever admit to suffering a hidden illness?

But he had acted impulsively today by declaring his feelings to another’s wife. No matter the reason, it was wrong.

So he clasped his fists again and apologized to Pei Huaijin, “Today’s matter was my overstep. Please forgive me.”

Forgive?

There was no forgiveness to be had.

Pei Huaijin did not respond to his words, which only made Liang feel more awkward. He took his leave, escorting Liang Qingluo out of the Shen residence.

As soon as Liang Xu left, Shen Youran immediately wrapped her arms around Pei Huaijin’s waist, rubbing her head hard against his chest. “I didn’t! I didn’t! I didn’t even know he liked me!”

“Didn’t what? Didn’t what?”

“I didn’t have an affair. I’m not some wanton woman.”

Pei Huaijin clearly knew she wasn’t that kind of person, but no matter how innocent she was, she was undeniably attractive. Yet she couldn’t see through the intentions of the men around her, giving them repeated chances to get close.

Ever since Pei Huaijin first met Liang Xu at the Marquis of Changxing’s mansion, he had seen the way Liang looked at her with impure eyes. Later, when she was kidnapped by bandits, Liang followed close behind, trying to rescue her. This only confirmed to Pei Huaijin that the young man had feelings for her.

Still, given Liang Xu’s two life-saving acts and one direct aid, plus the fact that he never openly declared his feelings, Pei Huaijin felt it inappropriate to expose him. After all, Shen Youran was already married, and no matter how much Liang liked her, he could not steal another man’s wife.

But she hadn’t reckoned with…

Hah, how wrong she was to underestimate this warrior.

He had already swung the hoe straight into their field.

Pei Huaijin stroked the back of the person in his arms: fortunately, this little red apricot was easily coaxed away by a few words.

“How many times did he see you while I was gone?”

“Just this once.”

“Try to meet him less from now on.”

“Okay.”

“Be wary of the men outside too, so no one else recklessly confesses their feelings.”

“There are so many men outside, how do I guard against them all?”

“The ones who breathe.”

“…” Shen Youran hugged his waist, rolling her head against his chest. “Oh? Lord Pei is jealous!”

Pei Huaijin pressed down on her restless head, then pinched her chin to lift her face. He admitted solemnly, “Yes, I am jealous.”

“Oh, don’t be jealous. I already refused him. I’m very faithful to you!”

“I know you refused him, but you shouldn’t be alone with him.”

“I had something important to discuss with him alone.”

“What important matter?”

“That’s a long story…”

“Then tell me slowly.”

“It’s really very long…”

It had to start from Pei Huaian turning into the imperial grandson.

“Husband, you don’t know, a huge event happened while you were away.”

“You mean the matter of the seventh brother?”

“You already know?”

“Yes. After returning to the office—”

“Then you also—”

Pei Huaijin tapped her forehead. He had known for a long time that he wasn’t really my seventh brother.

“Huh?” Shen Youran looked up at him, surprised. “You knew?”

“When Third Uncle switched him back, Grandfather found out. When Third Uncle confessed to Grandfather, I accidentally overheard.”

“Grandfather knew about this too?”

“Yes.”

Such a big matter, and so many people had known about it all these years?

“But at first I thought Third Uncle had just exchanged the prince’s surviving heir with his own child. Now I realize it wasn’t just two children swapped, but three. The child who suffered misfortune years ago was actually your second elder brother…”

“Yes, who would have thought those people never killed my second brother but instead raised him? Ten years later, I met my second brother in a bandit hideout…” Shen Youran mused at how strange fate was between her and her second brother. Though he had lost his childhood memories, he had remembered only her name—the name of his own sister. Because of that, he spared her and avoided a great disaster.

Shen Youran brought him to meet Shen Changyu, which led to Liang Xu recommending him for the archery selection. She had spoken with Liang Xu alone to ensure he kept secret that she had shot Shen Changyu’s foster father…

In truth, Pei Huaijin was also qualified to recommend him but was a step too late; Liang Xu beat him to it. However, Shen Changyu’s participation in the archery contest was ultimately a good thing. If he were selected, he could enter the archery class, paving a future for himself without needing to rely on the path of study.

Since Pei Huaijin had returned, Shen Youran naturally could no longer stay at the Shen residence. She instructed Dan Ruo and Qing He to pack up the servants and took a carriage back to the Pei residence.

Nestled in his arms, Shen Youran noticed a faint medicinal scent on him since his time in the mansion.

Though it was masked by his usual沉水香 (Chen Shui incense), when she drew close, she could still detect it.

“Are you hurt somewhere?” she sniffed around his body.

“Just a minor flesh wound. Nothing serious.”

“Let me see…” Shen Youran reached to lift his collar.

Pei Huaijin pulled her onto his lap, helping her to undo his collar, allowing her to peer inside.

His body was covered in bluish-purple bruises, smeared with ointment to promote blood circulation and dispel bruising.

“How did you get hurt?” Shen Youran’s heart ached.

“I was ambushed on the way back and fell from the carriage.” Though the situation had been dangerous, he wore a calm expression now.

“Where else are you injured?”

“My arm was grazed by a hidden arrow in their sleeve…”

“Which arm?”

“The left.”

Shen Youran tore down his left sleeve, revealing layers of bandages wrapped around his arm.

“Does it hurt?” She gently stroked the skin around the wound, then straightened and supported his shoulders to look at his back, unaware she had already stripped off half his clothes.

The cool air made the exposed skin break out in goosebumps, but Pei Huaijin didn’t feel cold; instead, his blood burned hot.

He wanted to say it didn’t hurt, but suddenly thought that occasionally showing weakness in front of his wife was rather endearing.

So he wrapped his arms around her waist and casually asked, “If I do hurt, how do you plan to comfort me?”

“Hmm…” She knelt on his lap, her body towering over him by a head. When her gaze rose from his back to his face, she saw a deep, subtle light shining in his eyes and instantly understood his intention.

Half-heartedly amused and full of concern, she glanced at him, then wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a quick kiss on his lips. “A kiss will make it better.”

This method hit Pei Huaijin’s weak spot perfectly. He immediately grasped her waist and pressed her close, tilting his head to pursue her lips. “It still hurts. Kiss me more.”

The more he said it hurt, the more Shen Youran relaxed, thinking he just wanted an excuse to have her kiss him more. She cupped his face, smiling as she continued kissing him…

Outside the carriage was a bustling street, the rolling of wheels mixed with the voices of people and vendors.

After so many kisses, her kissing skills still hadn’t improved much.

Pei Huaijin was far from satisfied with her clumsy, inexperienced kisses. So he took the initiative, plunging his tongue deep, making her lean back…

After returning to the Pei residence, Pei Huaijin took her to Chunxuan Hall to pay respects to his grandmother and explain that letting Shen Youran stay at her family home during this period was his idea, so that grandmother wouldn’t blame her.

Madam Pei had been quite shocked by the sudden elevation of the seventh brother to imperial heir but no longer cared about their petty disputes. She merely urged them to live peacefully from now on and not cause any more trouble. Her old bones could no longer bear such shocks.

While Shen Youran was settling the servants back at Junzhi Courtyard, Pei Huaijin went to Haitang Garden to see his mother.

After the incident of her daughter-in-law returning to her natal home, his mother no longer brought up the matter of taking concubines. Instead, she talked about Third Uncle sending someone to Quanzhou to bring back the real seventh brother and wondered if the boy had found a girl he liked there.

Pei Huaijin chuckled silently. It seemed his mother was scheming to marry the Meng family’s cousin to the seventh brother again.

Well, as long as she stopped focusing so much on his private affairs, it was fine.

Shen Youran had only just returned when the Second Madam arrived with ledgers. Following Madam Pei’s instructions, she was to take charge of household affairs from now on, with Second Madam assisting her.

Shen Youran had learned some basics from her elder sister and a half-hearted understanding from Aunt Xiao. Now that her sister had entered the palace and Aunt Xiao’s lessons had stopped, suddenly all these household responsibilities fell on her shoulders, which was quite overwhelming.

Though this Second Madam had poisoned her before, Shen Youran now had no other allies and had to make peace with her. The two of them would jointly manage the household.

When Pei Huaijin returned from Haitang Garden, the Second Madam had already left, and Shen Youran was sighing over a pile of ledgers.

“I was so relieved earlier in Chunxuan Hall that Grandmother didn’t scold me at all, but right after, she had Second Madam bring over these ledgers. I’m to manage the household from tomorrow!” Shen Youran was so worried her brows could have squeezed out water. “I’d rather have been scolded a couple of times than this.”

“Grandmother shouldn’t let you manage everything alone…” Pei Huaijin approached, and Shen Youran snuggled into his waist.

“Yes, Grandmother said Second Madam will assist me.”

“That’s nothing to worry about.” Pei Huaijin ruffled her hair. “Having Second Madam assist you means you’ll actually manage the household together. As an elder, if anything goes wrong, Grandmother will hold her responsible first. She understands this and won’t cause you trouble in the future.”

“Hmm.” Since Sister sorted things out in two or three days and Shen Youran had learned a little here and there over a couple of months, she decided to take on what she knew and leave unfamiliar tasks to Second Madam. She would learn as she went and hoped to soon manage alone. “I’ll start going through these ledgers today.”

“The weather’s gloomy and the room’s dark. Go to my study; there’s a colored-glass lamp there.”

“Okay.”

Pei Huaijin carried the ledgers to the study and lit the lamp for her, then told her, “I’m going to the clinic to pick up Qingjian.”

Actually, he could have sent someone to fetch Qingjian, but Qingjian had served him for many years and wasn’t just a guard. Moreover, Qingjian had been badly injured saving Shen Youran. Sending someone else would seem cold.

“Just today?”

Shen Youran asked, puzzled, “Why didn’t you pick him up on the way back? The clinic is right on the way from Shen residence to Pei residence.”

“I forgot.”

“Oh? Even you, with your perfect memory, can forget things?” Shen Youran teased.

“Mm,” Pei Huaijin nodded toward her lips, which had become slightly red and swollen from his kisses. “I forgot because I was lost in kissing you.”

Shen Youran’s face blushed deeply. On the carriage ride, she had sat in his arms, talking not a word but kissing him over and over, barely thinking of Qingjian.

“Go get him, then,” she said, pushing him away shyly. “Hurry.”

After he left, Shen Youran began studying the ledgers in his study.

She had always found this kind of thing tedious, but today, it didn’t seem so complicated. Because she had helped her sister organize things before, much of the bookkeeping made sense to her, and she finished a ledger in less than half an hour.

With a calm mind, she read faster. When she finished all the ledgers, only two hours had passed.

Outside, the sky was darkening, but Pei Huaijin had not yet returned.

Bored, Shen Youran suddenly recalled that he once mentioned his study contained that kind of book.

Heh heh…

Since he wasn’t here, why not find it and see how it differed from the fire prevention diagrams she had seen before?

She stood, opened the window, and glanced into the courtyard.

Only two coarse maids were sweeping the yard; Pei Huaijin was still absent.

She closed the window and immediately searched the bookshelf.

Soon, she found a book tucked in a corner and casually opened to a page showing the posture he held that night in the purification chamber, holding her while seated on the soft couch.

The image hit her like a wave. She slammed the book shut with a “snap,” her face burning red.

After a moment, she quietly reopened it…

“Ah…”

“Ha…”

“Eek…”

The study was silent except for the rustling of pages and her occasional low moans.

It was far more risqué than the fire prevention diagrams her mother had given her.

Shen Youran became so engrossed she failed to notice footsteps approaching.

When the door was pushed open, she suddenly realized someone had come in.

There was no time to put the book back on the shelf, and hiding it beneath the ledgers would surely be discovered.

In a flash, she grabbed the book and slipped under the desk…