Chapter 10:

Chapter 10

There was still some time before the midday banquet, so the female guests gathered in the hall to chat over tea. About half an hour later, the Crown Prince returned after bathing and changing his clothes.

Perhaps having given prior instructions, he was quick to prepare. The deep blue cloud-patterned robe he now wore was far more formal and intricate, accentuating his tall, straight figure like a pine tree, exuding an air of elegance and distinction.

The moment he stepped in, many noblewomen in attendance blushed, their expressions tinged with shyness.

Pei Yun had long grown accustomed to her husband’s ability to charm admirers. She waited a moment, only to frown slightly when she noticed no attendants accompanying the Crown Prince.

Madam Pei and Wang Shi also noticed this, their expressions growing subtly uneasy.

The Crown Prince should have gone to the front hall to join the male guests. His return was likely to see the child, as he had arrived in haste earlier, dusty and unfit to be near the child. Moreover, given the freezing weather outside, Pei Yun had not allowed the wet nurse to bring Chen'er out when receiving the imperial decree, so the Crown Prince had yet to see him.

But when the wet nurse handed the child to Li Zhangye, Chen'er squirmed and kicked, clearly resisting.

It wasn’t that Li Zhangye held him clumsily. Though in their previous life, he hadn’t spent much time with either of their children, whenever he had leisure, Li Zhangye would make time to see Chen'er and Jin'er, inquiring about their lives and studies. Though he spoke little, unlike her as a mother, his patience and rarely losing his temper had earned him the respect and affection of both children in their previous life.

This time, perhaps due to their prolonged separation and the child’s unfamiliarity with his father, coupled with fatigue and discomfort, Chen'er struggled fiercely. Moments later, he turned his teary eyes toward Pei Yun and began wailing.

In their previous life, Pei Yun hadn’t been present, so she didn’t know if this scene had occurred. Even if it had, she would likely have remained indifferent, at most signaling the wet nurse to take the child away. But now was different. Her heart ached, and she immediately stepped forward to take Chen'er from Li Zhangye’s arms.

Chen'er buried his face in his mother’s shoulder and soon stopped crying, though he continued to sniffle pitifully.

Pei Yun patted his back soothingly. When she glanced up, she found the man before her watching her quietly, his expression unreadable.

With so many guests present, Pei Yun assumed his pride was wounded and said, "Chen'er has always been cranky at bedtime. For the past three months, while Your Highness was away on duty, I was the one to soothe him, so he’s more accustomed to me now."

Li Zhangye smiled faintly at her words but said nothing.

Some of the female guests nearby jumped in to salvage the Crown Prince’s dignity. Everyone understood why the child wasn’t close to him—it was hardly a significant matter. After a few more remarks, Li Zhangye left for the front hall.

Pei Yun also had the wet nurse take the now-sleeping Chen'er away.

The moment the Crown Prince left, Pei Qian returned, supported by Shu Yan and another young woman.

This woman was none other than the noblewoman who had caused the incident in their previous life—Meng Qinzi of the Meng family.

However, compared to Pei Qian’s smiling face, the expressions of the other two were noticeably strained.

Pei Yun knew why Shu Yan looked that way, but the other two—she couldn’t quite guess.

"What took you so long?"

The moment Pei Qian was brought before Pei Yun and she and Miss Meng had bowed, Madam Pei blurted out impatiently.

"My foot hurt too much on the way, and Sister Shu Yan couldn’t support me alone. Fortunately, Miss Meng came to my aid and accompanied me back to the Crown Princess’s quarters to apply medicine and change clothes. Only then could I return smoothly." As she spoke, Pei Qian cast a grateful glance at Meng Qinzi beside her.

Meng Qinzi, a proper young noblewoman, wore a gentle smile now that she was fully inside the hall—a stark contrast to her earlier frown.

"It was just a trifling help. Second Young Lady is too kind."

"In that case, let me thank Miss Meng for my sister," Pei Yun remarked casually.

As soon as she spoke, Shu Yan’s eyes lit up, as if about to say something, but someone else interjected first, "Indeed, it was quite a coincidence. Just as we were in difficulty, we happened to meet Sister Meng, who was searching the area for her pendant."

"Searching for a jade pendant?" Pei Yun feigned ignorance, raising a brow.

Meng Qinzi’s smile stiffened. "I misplaced a childhood jade pendant. If anything, I owe thanks to Second Young Lady for helping me find it."

"I couldn’t possibly accept your thanks, sister," Pei Qian said with a look of alarm. "The dark green jade pendant stood out so clearly that I spotted it at a glance near His Highness's Chenghua Palace. It took no effort at all."

Pei Qian's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but many in the hall were already watching this exchange, and everyone heard her loud and clear.

Meng Qinzi's face instantly paled.

She pressed her lips together, about to explain, when another woman cut in, "The Second Young Lady is right. It must be that Miss Meng and her maid didn’t notice the area, which is why they spent so long searching near the gates of Chenghua Palace."

The speaker was Shu Yan. Pei Yun nearly laughed aloud as she watched the girl put on a show of "defending" Meng Qinzi with such earnestness. Shu Yan had always been quick with a cutting remark—back when she served Pei Yun, her words could draw blood. Later, after a harsh lesson the year Pei Yun was named Crown Princess, she had learned to hold her tongue.

Now, having seen through Meng Qinzi’s scheme and witnessing her stumble, Shu Yan seized the chance to pile on, leaving no room for Meng Qinzi to turn the situation around.

With just those few words, the guests quickly grasped the oddity of the matter.

It seemed this Miss Meng had taken advantage of the Crown Prince’s absence during his bath and change of clothes to try her luck at climbing the social ladder—only to have the misfortune of being caught in the act by the Second Young Lady of the Pei family.

Meng Qinzi was left speechless, forced to paste on a smile under the guests’ covertly disdainful gazes until Lady Meng stepped forward, making a weak excuse about her daughter’s haste delaying the search.

Pei Yun graciously provided an out, but the damage was done. After all, everyone present was shrewd—who would believe such a clumsy excuse?

In this second life of hers, Meng Qinzi’s petty schemes didn’t even register as a threat. Even if Pei Qian hadn’t intervened, Pei Yun would have sent Shu Yan to disrupt them.

Still, she found today’s events rather amusing.

Pei Yun’s gaze drifted thoughtfully toward Pei Qian, who had now taken a seat beside Madam Pei. As if sensing her scrutiny, Pei Qian met her eyes openly and gave a polite nod.

Pei Yun’s lips quirked in response, her slender fingers absently toying with the hand warmer on her lap.

After the midday banquet, Pei Yun escorted the ladies back to the hall for tea and idle chatter. By mid-afternoon, as the gathering dispersed, she deliberately kept the Pei family members behind to speak privately.

With her plan foiled, Madam Pei’s face darkened. Once the palace attendants withdrew, she snapped, "Foolish! I told you to strike first, yet you refused. Now look—how many women are vying for a place in the Eastern Palace? Don’t let someone else seize the advantage!"

Wang Shi added anxiously, "Indeed, Your Highness. Even the Meng family’s daughter is stooping to such tricks—who knows how many other noble ladies in the capital are scheming to enter the Eastern Palace? None of them are easy to handle. You must arrange for Qian Er to join you soon, so she can assist you properly..."

A generous way to frame "meddling."

Nearby, Zhou Shi frowned slightly, about to interject, but a faint glance from Pei Yun silenced her. With a light smile, Pei Yun said, "Those noble families have been trying to send their daughters into the Eastern Palace for years, yet none have succeeded. There’s no need for such urgency. I already have another plan in mind, Grandmother. Rest assured."

As she spoke, she glanced at Shu Mo, who stepped forward obediently and presented an item to Madam Pei with utmost respect.

"Grandmother, you’ve come all this way to the Eastern Palace, and I’ve little to offer as filial piety. Hearing from Mother that you’ve been unwell lately, I selected some premium deer antlers from the treasury. They’re said to be worth their weight in gold—excellent for replenishing qi and blood. I hope you’ll accept them."

Madam Pei, once a rural peasant who had never known luxury until her eldest son’s rise to prominence, couldn’t discern the quality of medicinal herbs. But at the mention of "worth their weight in gold," her eyes lit up, her earlier displeasure vanishing instantly.

Wang Shi, too, couldn’t tear her eyes away from the antlers, her gaze burning with greed.

Pei Yun watched Wang Shi’s covetous expression with a knowing smirk before adding that Pei Qian should focus on recovering from her injury and that she would visit the ducal residence again after the New Year. Then she saw them off personally.

Zhou Shi, clearly uneasy, squeezed Pei Yun’s hand before leaving. Pei Yun understood her mother’s worry—that her grandmother’s temporary appeasement wouldn’t last.

She patted her mother’s hand reassuringly, letting her know she had it handled.

With that matter settled, Pei Yun thought of her son, Li Jin, and sent a servant to check on him. Learning that Jin Er had returned to his own quarters after the banquet, seemingly fatigued, she dismissed the idea of summoning him for dinner and headed straight for the Linlang Palace.

Night had fallen, and palace attendants led the way with lanterns. Pei Yun walked slowly, lost in thought, when suddenly, a glow of lanterns appeared around the bend. Noticing her presence, the other party halted.

Before Pei Yun could get a closer look, Shu Yan recognized them first.

"My Lady, it’s the Crown Prince."

Pei Yun wrinkled her nose in irritation but had no choice but to quicken her pace slightly and step forward and curtsied.

Li Zhangye glanced in the direction she had come from. "Did the Crown Princess just send off all the guests?"

"Yes," Pei Yun replied. "It has been a long time since I last saw my family, so I kept my mother and grandmother behind to chat about family matters."

The Crown Prince murmured in acknowledgment. "Having been busy until now, I presume the Crown Princess has yet to have her evening meal."

Exhausted from the day, Pei Yun just wanted to rest and had no desire to continue entertaining this man, yet he left her no room to refuse.

Chang Lu, standing nearby, promptly signaled to an attendant to relay the order for the meal.

The palace servants tactfully hung back, allowing the two masters to walk ahead alone.

Pei Yun kept her head down, silent, always maintaining a distance of two steps behind Li Zhangye. She never liked being too close to him.

The man stood nearly nine feet tall, with a robust build from years of martial training—towering and overwhelming to her. When standing together, she barely reached his shoulders.

Walking side by side with him always made Pei Yun feel an intangible sense of oppression.

At this thought, she lifted her eyes and cast him a faint glance, her lips pursed slightly as she took in his cold, chiseled profile.

Truth be told, this oppressive feeling wasn’t just from standing beside him...

Pei Yun still remembered clearly that night of their wedding, when the candlelight flickered outside the bed curtains and the man loomed over her like a mountain, leaving her so terrified she could hardly breathe.

The distance to Linglang Palace wasn't far, and the two walked in silence the entire way.

Pei Yun wasn’t bothered—after years of marriage, this was their norm. To outsiders, they might seem the least like a married couple.

The imperial kitchen worked swiftly, and in less time than it takes an incense stick to burn, the meal was served upon their arrival at Linglang Palace.

Pei Yun was starving. As soon as the Crown Prince started eating, she followed suit.

After a brief wait, seeing that Pei Yun still hadn’t made a move, Chang Lu, standing nearby, looked puzzled, while Shu Yan and Shu Mo exchanged a discreet glance.

Not just them—Li Zhangye also looked at Pei Yun, though his expression remained neutral, and he soon averted his gaze.

Pei Yun felt the stares around her but pretended not to notice. In the past, whenever she dined with the Crown Prince, she had always served him his food. Her sudden change puzzled them.

When Pei Yun first married into the Eastern Palace, she had diligently served the Crown Prince at meals as instructed by Nanny Sheng, who had once served the late empress. Though the Crown Prince had made it clear it wasn’t needed, she had persisted, fearing reproach if outsiders found out.

But now, she suddenly no longer wished to do so. Since the Crown Prince didn’t care and could serve himself, why bother?

After a while, seeing that their Crown Princess truly seemed to have no intention of serving dishes, Chang Lu had no choice but to step forward reluctantly. Just as he picked up the chopsticks set aside, the Crown Prince dismissed him with a wave.

Though Li Zhangye adhered to rules, he wasn’t rigid. While he followed protocol in important matters, he was flexible with minor details.

He waited a moment, allowing the person beside him to eat her fill, before speaking slowly.

"In the future, if there's anything you like, feel free to keep it for yourself. There's no need to force it."

The familiar voice in her ear made Pei Yun freeze, chopsticks mid-air.

The Crown Prince had always advocated no talking during meals or while resting, and she had strictly adhered to this rule, finding solace in the quiet. Never had she expected him to initiate a conversation today.

As for his words, they were likely in reference to the events of the day.

She set down her chopsticks and bowed her head slightly, murmuring, "I understand, Your Highness."

Seeing her composed and courteous demeanor as usual, Li Zhangye's expression grew somewhat complicated.

Pei Shi appeared unchanged, yet today, she seemed different in every way.

When Rui Er had asked her for the brocade earlier, he had assumed she would agree, given her temperament.

Yet, though she hadn’t refused, her reluctance had been unmistakable. In all their years of marriage, this was the first time he had seen Pei Shi express her thoughts so clearly.

He didn’t scold her—in fact, he thought it was... good.

She had her own preferences, her own attachments. As the elder sister-in-law, she didn’t always have to give in—indulging them would only spoil them.

After a long silence, Li Zhangye asked again, "Has Rui Er ever been disrespectful to you before?"

He usually stayed out of the women’s affairs, but judging by Rui Er’s attitude toward Pei Shi today, this was hardly the first time.

As he finished speaking, he saw his wife lift her gaze. Her bright almond eyes flickered with hesitation, her lips parting slightly as if she wished to speak yet hesitated. In the end, she merely lowered her lashes in silence.

Li Zhangye understood.

"You are her elder sister-in-law. If she offends you again in the future, reprimand her. Should she refuse to listen, tell me at once."

"Many thanks, Your Highness."

Her voice, unusually sweet and soft, reached his ears, stirring something in Li Zhangye’s heart—like a feather’s light touch—strangely ticklish. Unable to resist, he cast another deep glance at Pei Yun.

A faint smile touched her lips, and under the honeyed glow of the candlelight, she looked unusually soft and beautiful.

Li Zhangye had rarely seen this side of her. She’d only been nervous and unsure early in their marriage, but over time, she’d become more and more composed, dignified, and reserved—only to become more distant, smiling rarely, even with their children.

He knew she was strict with Jin Er, but he never stepped in, nor did he see a problem with it. After all, his own childhood had been much the same.

Yet today, the way she had tenderly cradled the weeping Chen'er, soothing him with such care, stood in stark contrast to her usual treatment of Jin Er, which took Li Zhangye aback.

Pei Shi’s temperament seemed to have truly changed.

Li Zhangye did not resist this change. After all, her openness hinted at some trust and reliance on him as her husband.

Her complaints last time must have just been a passing mood.

What Li Zhangye pondered, Pei Yun naturally did not know—but her mindset had indeed shifted.

After testing him today, she realized she no longer needed to conceal her emotions so thoroughly. Proud and stubborn, she used to swallow every insult without a word, never uttering a complaint to the Crown Prince, determined to earn others’ approval through her own efforts.

Now, she understood. Most of her grievances stemmed from this very man before her—why not use him to her advantage?

Though the Crown Prince’s heart might not belong to her, he valued propriety above all. Rank and seniority mattered—Li Shurui overstepping her bounds as a younger sister-in-law was something he would never ignore.

The noble ladies were no different. They despised her deep down—why expect them to change? Better to use the Crown Prince’s power and force them into silence, so they wouldn’t dare disrespect her again.

What a useful weapon! Pei Yun only wished she’d figured this out in her past life, not wielding it sooner.

After the meal, the palace maids cleared the dishes and served tea. Pei Yun sat upright, waiting to digest, ready to bid the Crown Prince farewell—when his voice came, slow and quiet.

"Has the Crown Princess fully recovered?"

Pei Yun looked over and instantly met those pitch-black, fathomless eyes. Her heart sank like a stone into ice-cold water.

Having lived a second life, she understood all too well.

This wasn’t genuine concern—it was an inquiry about whether her body was ready for their wedding night.

If she answered yes, the Crown Prince would order the palace physicians to arrange the date for consummation.