Chapter 7 (2/2)

Since Pei Jin didn’t deny anything, Yan Shi Ning thought Pei Jin did favor Su Yue. That meant Yan Shi Ning needed to avenge her lost hair on her own. When Su Yue’s back was facing her, she stepped on the hem of Su Yue’s dress.

‘Ah!’ Su Yue cried out and fell on the floor.

Yan Shi Ning stood up abruptly and feigned concern for Su Yue. ‘Why did you fall? Did you twist your ankle? Are you hurt?’

The collar of Su Yue’s dress opened and revealed an ample chest above a tiny waist.

Su Yue pushed away Yan Shi Ning’s hand and she looked tearfully at Pei Jin. ‘Ninth prince, it hurts.’

The smile inside Pei Jin’s stomach was longer than his intestines. He knew the little lion wasn’t an easy opponent, if anyone provoked her then she would repay them. No matter how often he provoked her in the last twelve years, she didn’t begrudge him because she always immediately took revenge after being wronged. He felt it was indeed an amusing morning.

Pei Jin acted shocked and concerned. ‘Why did you fall? Someone help Su Yue up and take her to Bei Dou to examine her. A thousand times I hope nothing bad happened.’ He turned around to face Yan Shi Ning and he spoke in a gentler tone. ‘Wife, are you ready? If you are then let’s depart. I don’t want the elders to wait long. Come here, I’ll support you outside.’

Su Yue looked resentfully at Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning’s retreating backs. Wasn’t Pei Jin supposed to carry her off the floor and fuss over her? Why did Pei Jin support another woman? Yan Shi Ning wasn’t the one injured, what was there to support? Su Yue remembered the moans from Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning’s chamber last night and it made her angrier.

Suddenly Yan Shi Ning turned around and looked at Su Yue. ‘I almost forgot. Su Yue, you shouldn’t wear long dresses. If you change your dress then you’ll prevent falls in the future.’

Su Yue ignored Yan Shi Ning. She looked pitifully at Pei Jin and sulked. ‘Ninth prince, you said that I look beautiful in this dress. That’s why I wear this dress often.’

Pei Jin glanced at Su Yue. ‘Is that so? Su Yue, you’re naturally beautiful. It wouldn’t matter what dress you wear you’ll still be beautiful, go ahead and change into a different dress.’ He smiled at Yan Shi Ning. ‘Wife, let’s go.’

After Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning left the chamber another maid helped Su Yue stand up. ‘Big sister Su, do you want to go to see Gentleman Bei and let him examine you?’

Su Yue puffed her chest. ‘I don’t need to see that demon physician!’

Bei Dou had been a physician in Pei Jin’s manor for many years. But Bei Dou had a scary aura that apart from Pei Jin, everyone feared Bei Dou.

Outside Pei Jin’s manor, Yan Shi Ning sat inside a horse carriage and she smiled coldly.

Pei Jin propped his chin on a hand and he smiled at Yan Shi Ning. ‘Wife, were you jealous before?’

‘Your wife wouldn’t dare,’ Yan Shi Ning said without looking at Pei Jin.

Pei Jin pulled Yan Shi Ning to his chest and kissed her deeply. ‘Is that so? Then why did you step on her dress to make her fall?’

Yan Shi Ning pushed Pei Jin’s chest. She knew he had noticed her stepping on Su Yue’s dress before. ‘Is that so? Why don’t I remember? Perhaps ninth prince was mistaken.’

Pei Jin happily looked at the denial on Yan Shi Ning’s face. He regretted there wasn’t enough time to tease her body inside the carriage.

‘Her name is Su Yue,’ Pei Jin said. ‘My adoptive grandfather Huang Guo who is a court official sent Su Yue to me. She is the niece of the head caretaker of Huang Guo’s manor. She relies on her special background and acts haughty.’

Yan Shi Ning understood that Pei Jin’s adoptive mother Consort Chen’s relatives’ generosity would be hard to refuse. But she also heard Pei Jin emphasized ‘special’ and she smiled coldly. ‘Isn’t she someone ninth prince dotes on?’

Pei Jin wanted to explain but Yan Shi Ning stopped him.

‘You don’t need to explain,’ Yan Shi Ning said. ‘I understand. She doesn’t want to serve me and only wants to serve you well. It’s admirable she is someone who pursues her dream.’

‘What?’ Pei Jin asked. ‘Wife, don’t you care if another woman wants to climb into your husband’s bed?’

‘Of course not,’ Yan Shi Ning said. ‘It’s good for you to have many women in your bed.’

Pei Jin stared at Yan Shi Ning’s calm face and he wanted to strangle her to death. He had hoped she had eaten vinegar before.

A while later Yan Shi Ning remembered something and she pulled out a jade pendant. ‘That night you dropped this on my bed. Last night I forgot and earlier there was no opportunity to give this to you.’

Pei Jin knew Yan Shi Ning misunderstood but he didn’t explain and put the jade pendant back on her hand. ‘This jade pendant is from Southern Jiang. It looks like you. The moment it saw you it didn’t want to leave you. If it feels close to you then you should keep it.’

‘Big brother, you’re the one that’s close to it,’ Yan Shi Ning said. ‘Your whole household is close to it.’ She paused for a while. ‘Big brother, why did you take my undergarments?’

‘I don’t remember taking your undergarments,’ Pei Jin denied. ‘Perhaps they feel close to me and secretly followed me.’

Yan Shi Ning glared at Pei Jin and she wanted to bite him.

‘Wife be good,’ Pei Jin said. ‘If you want to bite me, you need to wait until we return home tonight and you can slowly bite me. Remember not to glare at me in front of the elders. You’re known for being gentle and docile, don’t accidently reveal your true tail.’

‘Ninth prince, remember to wear your mask tightly,’ Yan Shi Ning said. ‘If you’re not careful you’ll drop it and expose your true lying scoundrel self.’

‘We’re the same,’ Pei Jin said.

The horse halted and the perfect gentle newlyweds stepped out of the horse carriage.

***

End of Chapter Seven