Chapter 41

Chapter 41

The couple enjoyed a casual evening meal before changing into outfits suitable for traveling, planning to exit the estate through a side gate. Soon, Huang Wei rushed over to inform Pei Muheng that the Duke was waiting for them in the main hall with something important to discuss.

Pei Muheng was slightly taken aback. The Duke seldom interfered in his affairs; why was he concerned today? He promptly led Xu Yunqi to the main hall.

Upon entering the corridor, they saw the Duke accompanying Xun Yunhe in the main chamber.

Pei Muheng was not overly surprised. Glancing back at his wife, Xu Yunqi looked indifferently at Xun Yunhe and gave them both a polite bow before retreating.

Pei Muheng entered the hall alone, bowing respectfully to the Duke and Xun Yunhe.

"Father Duke, Master, is there something you wish to entrust me with?"

The Duke glanced at him upon hearing the title 'Master,' but Pei Muheng's expression remained unchanged. As long as Xu Yunqi did not acknowledge Xun Yunhe, he would not alter his address.

Xun Yunhe's expression revealed nothing. He stood up, his gaze landing on Xu Yunqi outside the corridor. "You're taking her along?"

Pei Muheng nodded in affirmation.

"What are your plans?"

Pei Muheng replied, "A surprise investigation first, to catch the other side off guard."

Xun Yunhe didn't ask further. It was not appropriate for him to be too closely involved with Pei Muheng in matters of state affairs. His only concern was his daughter's safety.

"Shouldn't she bring a maid? Who will take care of her?"

This question made Pei Muheng's throat tighten slightly.

What Xun Yunhe was probably worried about wasn't that no one would look after Xu Yunqi, but rather that his daughter would be serving others tirelessly.

In the past, Pei Muheng had been his student, but now he was his son-in-law. Xun Yunhe's gaze towards him had changed. Xu Yunqi had endured many hardships since marrying into the palace, and in Xun Yunhe's eyes, Pei Muheng was not a suitable husband.

Xun Yunhe's eyes were sharp yet detached.

Prince Xi laughed to himself. His powerful and influential father-in-law was both an asset and a source of pressure. He looked solemnly at his son, hoping he wouldn't disappoint Xun Yunhe.

Pei Muheng bowed again, "Teacher, please rest assured. I will personally take care of her."

Xun Yunhe did not probe further. Prince Xi patted his shoulder and said, "Come back early."

The two of them watched as Pei Muheng and his wife disappeared behind the rear corridor before they turned away.

Xun Yunhe's official robe was still on him, indicating that he had just finished his duties at court and had yet to have dinner. With politeness, Prince Xi invited him in. "Shall we, Yunhe? Come in for a cup of tea."

Xun Yunhe looked slightly startled but shook his head. "Your Highness, I need to see Apricot."

Prince Xi did not object and instructed someone to summon Apricot. She greeted Xun Yunhe with a proper bow. "Lord Xun, what can this servant do for you?"

"Follow me for a moment."

Xun Yunhe led her through a secret passage to the Xun residence. Apricot was no stranger to the Xun household. When Xu Yunqi had brought her to a banquet previously, she had wandered around the residence as if it were her own domain. The entrance to the Xun residence led to a reception hall. In his youth, Xun Yunhe had admired the style of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, so he had set up couches and seats here to discuss classics and debate philosophy with friends and disciples.

Apricot took a look around and asked Xun Yunhe, "What is your intention, my lord?"

Xun Yunhe looked at her sincerely. "Tell the steward about your lady's preferences and ask him to make some changes to the house."

A sudden upheaval had occurred in the Xun residence. The steward had quietly burned the memorial tablets of Zhang and Xun Yunqi. The entire inner courtyard now bore signs of Ye's presence. The steward suggested renovating the yard, and Xun Yunhe agreed. Thus, he had summoned Apricot.

Her ginkgo-shaped eyes widened abruptly, "Is that so..." She pinched her chin in contemplation for a while, "But, Miss doesn't have any particular preferences."

"The lady's only passion is the study of medicine and tending to the sick. She has no interest in the colorful jewelry or fine garments that young women usually adore... As for gardens, our late patriarch used to take us on journeys across the land. We would stay in inns at times, and in ordinary folk's homes at others, never in one place for more than half a year. A simple and clean abode has always sufficed; she doesn't seem to have any particular penchant for anything extravagant."

Xun Yunhe's heart felt as if it had been pierced by several knives, leaking a chilly wind with each breath.

That night, he sat in the deserted reception hall, unable to find slumber throughout the long night.

At this very moment in the Xu residence, Xu Ke had been dispatched by Madam Shangguan to oversee canal construction in neighboring Tongzhou. It was only under the cover of this night that he returned. Lady Zhang had waited for him anxiously for two days. Finally, as he arrived back at the manor, she summoned him to her bedside and inquired of him,

"Have you heard about the recent turmoil in the Prime Minister's residence?"

The weather was still warm, and Xu Ke's forehead was dotted with a sheen of sweat. He took the embroidered handkerchief his wife offered and wiped his face, chuckling. "Who could have predicted that Madam Xun would be such a ruthless and cunning person? However, I did see Lord Xun as well. He had an impressive bearing and remarkable charm. Even at over forty, he exudes such allure; one can only imagine how captivating he must have been in his youth. It's no wonder women would be drawn to him."

"Tragically, his wife was the most pitiable. Had she not fallen victim to the treachery of others, she would now be the illustrious and respected First Minister's Consort..."

Not waiting for him to finish, Madam Zhang interrupted him with a pale face,

"He is my former husband."

Xu Ke choked on his saliva, "What?"

He suspected he had misheard.

Lady Zhang tried her best to maintain a composed posture, suppressing her emotions as she repeated herself,

"He is Yunqi's biological father. I am the former wife who was nearly killed by Lady Ye."

A sharp cough escaped Xu Ke's lips, and his face gradually tensed up. His eyes widened as they locked onto Lady Zhang, leaving him speechless.

Seeing his disoriented state, Lady Zhang felt helpless, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I only found out about it that day when Yunqi recognized him. Then I realized that Lady Ye had intended to kill both me and Yunqi back then. Do you remember the plague...?"

It was as if five bolts of lightning struck Xu Ke's forehead, leaving him with a buzzing confusion. He couldn't absorb anything else; all he could think about was that his wife was the former wife of the Prime Minister. What was he supposed to do...? How should he react...? At first, shock overtook him, followed by an indescribable anger, and eventually, fear and bewilderment.

Looking at her trembling husband, Lady Zhang, for some reason, mustered the courage to pull him into her embrace,

"Xu Ke, don't overthink it, and don't be afraid. That part of my life is over. He is known for his gentlemanly demeanor and won't do anything to us. We'll live our lives peacefully and won't provoke anyone..."

The sudden surge of pressure these past two days overwhelmed Lady Zhang, causing her to break down in sobs while holding her husband.

She might not be the perfect wife nor the most devoted mother, but she would never betray her husband or forsake her duties.

Xu Ke heard his wife's sobs growing weaker, and gradually regained his composure. "Qingniang, Qingniang, it's alright... I'm fine..." As he spoke, panic surged within him, but he forced himself to remain calm.

His wife had chosen him steadfastly and taken the initiative to reveal this matter, giving him a much-needed reassurance.

Of course, he did not wish for their peaceful and harmonious life to be disrupted.

However, the man involved was the Prime Minister; any hopes of further career advancement were now dashed.

Noticing her husband trembling slightly, Zhang held him even closer. "Yunqi said we should carry on as usual, and that nothing will happen."

Xu Ke was unsure about the depth of Xun Yunhe's feelings for his wife, leaving him with an uncertain feeling. Nonetheless, at this moment, he needed to demonstrate the strength and responsibility of a man.

"Rest assured, I won't let him take you away."

Zhang smiled through her tears. "Yes, we, as husband and wife, stand united."

Outside the window, the moon shone brightly, illuminating the tightly entwined couple.

The moon, high above the capital, followed Xu Yunqi and Pei Muheng's entourage, illuminating their broad night journey.

Xu Yunqi wanted to ride a horse, but Pei Muheng refused, insisting on carrying her behind him instead.

Despite being just a young servant girl, she was reluctant to part from him, yet she dared to mention divorce so casually. What an ungrateful lass.

Pei Muheng's steed galloped like the wind, and the night breeze rushed into Xu Yunqi's nose and throat, forcing her to lean closely against his solid back. As they navigated a rugged mountain path, the horse's movements grew more jarring, compelling Xu Yunqi to hold onto him even tighter, her body inseparable from his spine.

Though he didn't appear overly muscular, this man's backbone was robust and strong, with broad shoulders and a firm waist, like an impenetrable wall that didn't budge.

It was summer, and Pei Muheng wore only a thin black shirt, revealing his well-defined abdominal muscles. Xu Yunqi's palm rested precisely there, feeling the muscle texture as they rubbed together, causing her to break out in a sweat. However, Pei Muheng remained unperturbed, carrying her all the way to an inn on the outskirts of Hejian Prefecture.

It was already midnight, and the full moon hung high, casting a bright glow over the entire wilderness.

Two covert guards had prepared a room in advance. Pei Muheng led Xu Yunqi inside.

The guards fetched hot water for them to wash up. Having wiped herself clean at the palace, and despite the wind on the journey, Xu Yunqi hadn't broken a sweat. She immediately sought the bed, as she would normally be sound asleep by this time. Today, she couldn't help but drift off. When Pei Muheng finished bathing and changed into clean clothes, a small candle illuminated the dimly lit room. He took a sip of water, glanced at the makeshift cot, and realized that this was a humble inn. The bed was constructed from simple wooden planks, narrower than half the width of a canopy bed in the palace. With Xu Yunqi occupying it, there was barely enough space left for Pei Muheng.

Pei Muheng extinguished the light and approached softly. Gently lifting Xu Yunqi, he nestled her in his arms to sleep.

Perhaps due to the unfamiliar proximity, Xu Yunqi shifted restlessly.

Unable to avoid her movements, Pei Muheng inwardly took a deep breath.

Half-asleep, Yunqi was jarred by an object and turned around. She lost control of her strength, accidentally bumping into him. This caused Pei Muheng to gasp in pain.

Xu Yunqi abruptly opened her eyes, lifting her hazed gaze to look at him,

"What's wrong?"

In the stillness of the night, with not a sound to be heard, Yunqi's voice echoed through the silence, instantly rousing her consciousness to half.

Pei Muheng gazed at her with a dark expression, slowly adjusting his position to face her, "It's nothing..."

His breathing was clearly unsteady, and Xu Yunqi picked up on the underlying tension.

They hadn't been intimate for several days. With youthful vigor, their narrow bed made accidental contact inevitable. Xu Yunqi understood this, so she slowly lay down facing him. Her entire back pressed against the wall, creating a sleeping arrangement where their breaths intertwined. Pei Muheng's every inhale and exhale reverberated in her ear. Lying close to him, her body inevitably brushed against him, leaving neither of them comfortable.

The covert guards slept in adjacent rooms, and the walls clearly didn't provide good sound insulation. Both being reserved and restrained individuals, they couldn't allow themselves to lose control.

Worried that Pei Muheng might not sleep well, Xu Yunqi came up with an idea. She propped herself up and whispered into his ear,

"I'll help you."

Three simple words struck a chord in his heart.

Pei Muheng's eyebrows lifted as he gazed at the vague silhouette in the darkness. His Adam's apple involuntarily bobbed as he asked in disbelief, "You'll help me?"

To him, Xu Yunqi didn't seem like the type to do such a thing.

Yet, after she said that, he inexplicably looked forward to this steady and composed wife making an exception for him.

Xu Yunqi's small hand covered his abdomen, and she softly hummed in response. Her faint nasal tone resonated and intensified in the night.

Pei Muheng's eyes darkened momentarily, and his breath paused for a brief moment.

Before he could react, she untied his belt, and her soft, cool fingers slipped inside, already roaming across his abdomen. Compared to earlier on the horse, this touch was more direct, revealing the full beauty of his strength with every inch. The smooth undulations exuded a subtle, restrained heat.

Xu Yunqi's fingertips gently caressed his abdominal groove. Wherever they touched, a scorching sensation instantly spread through his body. Pei Muheng slowly exhaled, trying to keep his breathing as quiet as possible. With the pads of her fingers, she traced each line, all of them firm and defined. As a doctor, Xu Yunqi had seen many men's bodies, most of which were flabby or had protruding bellies. She had to admit that the man before her had an impeccable physique.

Just as her fingertips grazed the lowermost muscle of his abdomen, Pei Muheng swiftly caught his wife's delicate hand, whispering hoarsely,

"No need, Yunqi..."

He was still reluctant to let her do such a thing.

Xu Yunqi shook her head and spoke softly, "It's alright, I've already memorized your acupoints."

"Hmm?"

"I'll insert the needle now to alleviate your frustration."

Xu Yunqi withdrew the thin needle hidden in her sleeve and, following the acupoints she had just identified, precisely inserted it into his skin.

Pei Muheng: "..."