Chapter 4

Chapter 4

At the Changning Marquis Mansion, as night fell, Pei Jing sent someone to deliver a message, saying that he would not return due to official business.

The servants at Anhe Hall were informed, and since Weichuan usually accompanied Pei Jing, the task of delivering the message to Yu Qizhi fell to Uncle Zhao.

Uncle Zhao was getting on in years, and Pei Jing treated him like an elder. Naturally, Yu Qizhi was also very courteous towards him.

Hearing that Pei Jing would not be returning to rest in the mansion tonight, Yu Qizhi paused for a moment, then smiled slightly at Uncle Zhao, acknowledging the message.

Her smile could be forced, but the loneliness in her eyes could not be hidden.

As Uncle Zhao walked with the servants escorting him out, he turned back and saw that the candlelight in Yu Qizhi's bedroom was still burning.

Ever since the Crown Prince and Yu Qizhi got married last year, if the Crown Prince had not returned, Yu Qizhi would keep the light in her room on for him.

Uncle Zhao had been a servant brought by Pei Jing's mother and had watched Pei Jing grow up. He always felt a paternal affection for him.

They all knew how difficult it had been for the Crown Prince over the years. Initially, Uncle Zhao had some concerns about whether Yu Qizhi was worthy of the Crown Prince, but now it seemed clear that she truly cared for Pei Jing.

...

Ministry of Justice, Imperial Prison.

The assassin captured by Pei Jing at the palace residence that day was now detained in the deepest level of the Ministry of Justice's Imperial Prison. In recent days, despite repeated interrogations by the Ministry of Justice and Dali Temple, the assassin remained unyielding, seemingly either made of steel or intentionally delaying.

In the past few days, there had even been signs of skilled martial artists attempting to rescue the prisoner from the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry realized they could no longer delay and decided to subject the assassin to severe torture under the joint supervision of Dali Temple and North Yard, forcing him to speak.

The joint trial was scheduled for noon. Despite the bright sun, the winter wind was biting cold. Officials and guards from the Ministry of Justice saw a group from North Yard riding in, seemingly unaffected by the harsh weather.

The guards of North Yard were directly under the Emperor, and each one was distinguished and impressive.

However, everyone's attention was focused on Pei Jing, the commander leading the group.

His face was stern and deep, his gaze sharp.

Dressed in an imposing military uniform, his tall and slender figure exuded a commanding presence, easily overshadowing the grandeur of his attire.

Pei Jing walked straight into the Imperial Prison, exchanged brief pleasantries with the Minister of Justice and Lu Songnian, the Deputy Chief of Dali Temple, before getting down to business.

The Minister of Justice, now in his forties, had spent decades climbing the ranks to reach his current position. As such, he did not hold much respect for people like Pei Jing, who had risen quickly through family connections.

He harbored some resentment towards Pei Jing but maintained a cordial demeanor, even offering him the seat of honor.

Pei Jing remained composed, declining the main seat and taking a side position.

The assassin, brought in, glared fiercely at Pei Jing, his body tense, the chains around him clanking.

It was Pei Jing who had captured him, forcefully gripping his jaw and preventing him from ending his own life, allowing him to linger in the Imperial Prison.

Pei Jing showed no emotion, his tone firm and decisive: "Let's begin."

"These tortures will make anyone confess, even a celestial being," the Minister of Justice said, signaling his subordinates to proceed.

Despite the assassin's resilience, after two rounds of torture, he finally revealed the location.

Lu Songnian, a few years older than Pei Jing, couldn't help but cover his nose at the sight.

Though he dealt with corpses regularly, he rarely witnessed such brutal interrogations.

Even with frequent cleaning, the thick, pungent smell of blood permeated the air, a mixture of resentment, hatred, and decay.

The Minister of Justice personally escorted the prisoner back to his cell, while the Imperial Guards from North Yard rushed to the blacksmith shop in the western part of the city.

Lu Songnian soon recovered and joked with Pei Jing, "Could it be that Commander Pei has caught a cold and can't smell anything?"

Pei Jing ignored him, waiting silently for the results from the Imperial Guards.

Lu Songnian gradually understood that, as head of North Yard, Pei Jing often dealt with matters unsuitable for public knowledge, so such scenes were not uncommon for him.

Soon, the leader of the Imperial Guards returned from the blacksmith shop with a thin piece of paper, on which the owner confessed to framing the Crown Prince for the assassination attempt on the Emperor.

The blacksmith had clearly committed suicide recently; his blood was still warm when the Imperial Guards arrived.

Lu Songnian sighed.

This outcome did not surprise anyone present, but at least the Crown Prince's innocence was finally vindicated.

With this case concluded, the next step was for the officials to report to the Emperor.

Leaving the Imperial Prison late at night, Lu Songnian, citing that his wife had just arrived in Chang'an and wished to meet Pei Jing's wife, invited Pei Jing and Yu Qizhi to visit his mansion during their day off.

Earlier, when Pei Jing sent word that he would not return, the lights in the Changning Marquis Mansion had been extinguished, leaving only a few dim corridor lamps flickering in the cold wind.

But the warm yellow light in Yu Qizhi's bedroom was still on.

Pei Jing glanced at it indifferently.

...

The bed in Yu Qizhi's bedroom sank slightly under the weight, and the cool scent of a man wafted over her back, carrying warmth and dampness.

"Pei Jing, why do you have a smell of blood on you?"

Without Pei Jing beside her, Yu Qizhi had not slept well, but suddenly being woken up left her mind still hazy.

"Visited the Imperial Prison." Pei Jing buried his nose in the nape of her neck and whispered softly.

As Pei Jing spoke, the slight vibrations from his chest traveled to Yu Qizhi's back. She regained her senses and turned over in his arms to face him, examining him closely.

After a moment, Yu Qizhi reached out to touch his face. Before she could speak, her own complexion paled slightly.

"Could you wash again? The smell of blood is making me uneasy," Yu Qizhi said softly, looking genuinely worried.

Pei Jing lowered his eyes and chuckled softly.

"Let me see how uneasy it makes you."

He held her soft hand against the bedpost, pressing his lips to her neck. The person in his arms soon went limp.

Yu Qizhi's nightgown collar loosened slightly with his movements, revealing her fair skin. The scent of plum blossoms wafted gently, inviting him to partake.

Pei Jing's eyes darkened. He leaned down and took the red plum that belonged only to him.

Tonight, Pei Jing seemed more out of control than usual, making it hard for Yu Qizhi to bear.

When they finished, Yu Qizhi rested her cheek against his chest, asking softly, "What happened? Was something not smooth at the Imperial Prison today?"

Pei Jing paused. "No."

It was clear he did not want to discuss it further.

"But, you clearly..." Yu Qizhi tried to say more.

Pei Jing raised his eyes impatiently, his gaze falling on Yu Qizhi's parted red lips.

A sudden inexplicable irritation rose within him.

To quell the agitation, he cupped the back of her head and kissed her lips.

Yu Qizhi was taken aback.

Pei Jing rarely initiated kisses on her lips.

But she only hesitated for a moment before reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck and returning the kiss.

As soon as Pei Jing returned to the Marquis Mansion, he entered Yu Qizhi's bedroom. The servants on night duty quickly sprang into action, preparing hot water and waiting outside, their faces flushed by the intermittent sounds coming from inside.

Outside, it was freezing, but Yu Qizhi had broken a light sweat.

In the bathroom, Yu Qizhi scooped a ladle of water for him. The water droplets slid over Pei Jing's eyelashes, down his straight nose, and finally onto his firm chest.

Moonlight fell on Pei Jing's chiseled profile. His dark eyes looked at her as he said, "Wash together."

Yu Qizhi shook her head.

Usually, she waited until Pei Jing had washed and changed the water before she bathed.

Pei Jing raised an eyebrow. Before Yu Qizhi could discern the meaning behind his expression, she felt a force around her waist.

Pei Jing's grip was strong. With one swift motion, he pulled her into the water.

The pool was deep, and Yu Qizhi nearly choked on the water.

Her lower back was held tightly by Pei Jing, her spine pressed against his chest.

In a daze, she felt like a vine in the water, floating and sinking, with Pei Jing becoming her island of support.

Unsurprisingly, the pool water became dirty again, and Pei Jing called for the servants to change it.

The servants in the Crown Prince's courtyard were used to this, but Yu Qizhi still blushed.

Eventually, she bathed with Pei Jing. Soaked in the pool, her consciousness began to blur, almost drifting off to sleep.

She felt someone lifting her out of the water. Her eyes closed as she pleaded, "No more. I want to sleep."

The man chuckled softly, and then a dry towel wrapped around her wet hair.

"Dry off before sleeping," Pei Jing's slightly deep voice said near her ear.

Pei Jing, who practiced martial arts year-round, worked efficiently, drying her from head to toe.

The warmth and dryness felt incredibly comfortable, and Yu Qizhi's eyes grew heavy, allowing him to do as he pleased.

...

On this day, Pei Jing had a day off. After morning chores, he proposed taking Yu Qizhi out of the mansion.

Since marrying into the Marquis Mansion, Yu Qizhi rarely left except to visit the temple.

Whether intentionally or not, Pei Jing seldom brought her out in public.

After getting up, Yu Qizhi felt somewhat lethargic, unsure if it was due to her approaching menstrual cycle or last night's excesses. But she nodded to Pei Jing nonetheless.

Yu Qizhi quickly dressed and stepped into the carriage at the Marquis Mansion's gate, where Pei Jing was already waiting on horseback, dressed in casual attire.

Pei Jing usually wore official robes, which were elegant but imposing.

Seeing him without the official robes, Yu Qizhi found him less cold and his sharp features softened.

Yu Qizhi lifted a corner of the curtain and gazed at him, entranced.

When Pei Jing was silent, his eyes devoid of emotion, he most resembled Feng Qingling.