Chapter 9.1 (1/2)

Chapter Nine (Part 1)

The horse carriage travelled from the palace to Pei Jin’s manor.

Inside the horse carriage Yan Shi Ning poked Pei Jin’s arm. ‘Big brother, why didn’t you let me visit Consort Mu’s chamber?’

‘Why do you want to go there?’ Pei Jin asked. ‘Aren’t you scared of her dull company?’

Of course Yan Shi Ning didn’t believe Pei Jin’s excuse.

Pei Jin hugged Yan Shi Ning. ‘Little lion, in the future when we’re summoned to the palace stay away from Consort Mu unless it’s necessary to talk her.’

‘Why?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

‘I’m scared you’ll be fooled by her,’ Pei Jin said.

Yan Shi Ning supressed her temper. ‘Ninth prince, is there anything else?’

‘Of course,’ Pei Jin said. ‘You can’t impulsively eat, bully and believe other people. Mainly eat more rice and speak less. You only need to laugh and act foolish… wait, you don’t need to act foolish, being yourself is enough.’

Pei Jin gently knocked Yan Shi Ning’s head. She caught his hand and bit him. Her heart remembered his advice clearly, it knew behind the teasing tone was a deeper meaning.

After they returned to Pei Jin’s manor, Yan Shi Ning wanted to rest in their chamber but he stopped her.

‘Wait, I want you to meet someone in the manor,’ Pei Jin said.

Yan Shi Ning was suspicious who Pei Jin wanted her to meet. But she kept quiet because he looked serious.

Pei Jin’s manor was located north of the palace. There was an artificial lake, beautiful gardens and elegant chambers.

Pei Jin led Yan Shi Ning through the gardens. They stopped in front of a secluded chamber at the back of the manor. She could smell many herbal scents even before the door was opened.

Pei Jin looked at a young man dressed in black clothes and who carried bottles of remedies.

‘This is Gentleman Bei Dou, the manor’s physician,’ Pei Jin said.

‘Big brother, why do you want me to meet the physician?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

Pei Jin laughed. ‘He’s a physician and also my friend.’

Yan Shi Ning understood Pei Jin wouldn’t call someone a friend lightly. She didn’t know why Pei Jin wanted her to meet Bei Dou but she silently assessed Bei Dou.

Bei Dou looked about twenty years old, tall, wore black clothes, quiet, cold and distant. Yan Shi Ning felt like Bei Dou wasn’t someone easy to be close to. She was surprised Pei Jin was able to befriend someone like Bei Dou.

‘Do you wear perfume?’ Bei Dou asked coldly.

‘No,’ Yan Shi Ning said.

‘Then what’s the perfume scent on your body?’ Bei Dou asked.

Yan Shi Ning shook her head, she honestly didn’t wear perfume.

‘Recently have you been burning incense sticks?’ Bei Dou asked.

‘Yes, at the Yan Manor,’ Yan Shi Ning said.

‘For how long?’ Bei Dou asked.

‘Almost one month,’ Yan Shi Ning said.