Chapter 3.2 (2/2)

‘Ninth gentle prince is handsome too,’ Yan Jing said. ‘I’m certain you will not suffer if you marry him… Shi Ning, what do you think?’

Yan Shi Ning’s heart protested. What no suffering? Mouthy boy would bully her until death. She raised her head and glanced at her father. Her heart laughed coldly. Her father talked for half a day yet he pointlessly asked for her opinion when his decision was made immediately after mouthy boy’s proposal.

Yan Shi Ning nodded and spoke in the gentlest tone. ‘Father, you can make the arrangements.’

Even though she disliked mouthy boy, she understood his higher status didn’t allow her to refuse his proposal.

Yan Shi Ning didn’t want to admit that she couldn’t find a more carefree life than marrying Pei Jin. She would have status, didn’t have to worry about him fighting to be emperor and most importantly she would fulfil her mother’s final request, ‘I want you to be fed, clothed and live a peaceful life.’

Yan Shi Ning accepting Pei Jin’s proposal was her best choice. She predicted that in the future she would be married to the most cunning, thick face and expert liar. It was a prediction scarier than death.

Yan Jing gave his blessing for Pei Jin to marry Yan Shi Ning.

In the palace the emperor presented to Pei Jin two auspicious days for Pei Jin’s wedding. The first day was at the start of the eighth month and the second day was in three months.

‘The start of the eighth month is a good day,’ Pei Jin said. ‘If the wedding is in three months it’ll be too close to the New Year and will detract from little brother’s wedding. Also, the rebels in the south are unpredictable. It’s better for imperial father to prepare a simple wedding for me.’

The emperor was pleased to hear Pei Jin understood the situation well and immediately consented to prepare Pei Jin’s wedding for the start of the eighth month. The emperor didn’t have a deep bond with Pei Jin, but he thought Pei Jin was a reasonable person.

The moment Pei Jin was not within sight of his father, he smiled sadistically. Pei Jin chose the earliest auspicious wedding day, because he couldn’t wait to tease and torment the little lion.

After the wedding gifts were prepared, wedding garments were sewed and invitations were delivered, it was the fifth day of the eighth month which was the day before Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning’s wedding day.

That hot night Yan Shi Ning couldn’t cope with the humidity. She laid on her bed wearing a loose inner robe. She thought it was surreal that she was marrying mouthy boy the following day. But she didn’t doubt mouthy boy was anticipating their wedding day.

Mouthy boy’s scoundrel face appeared in her head. She didn’t know why there were many women mouthy boy could marry, but he purposely wanted to provoke her. Since their first meeting when she was six years old, each time they met was never a good experience.

Yan Shi Ning felt within the last twelve years that she was a pitiful mouse caught by the cunning cat Pei Jin. Pei Jin didn’t swallow her whole. He preferred to claw her slowly, tease her and frustrate her to death.

Luckily she wasn’t her naive self from twelve years ago.

Suddenly she felt there was something suspicious. She knew Pei Jin’s real personality too well. It was unlike him to let her live peacefully. Their wedding day was set but it was suspicious he didn’t come to see her privately to cause her grief within the last month. Apart from the day he made an appearance at the Yan Manor to give wedding gifts, he didn’t even deliver one message to provoke her.

She didn’t know what mouthy boy was scheming. Suddenly she heard a faint noise from the window. She turned her head toward the window and saw someone climbed through the window.

***

End of Chapter Three (Part 2 of 2)