Chapter 11 (2/2)

Su Yue widened her eyes and panicked. If she was locked in her chamber for a month then Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning’s bond would grow stronger without her interference.

‘You don’t need to say anything else, go to your chamber,’ Pei Jin said.

Bei Dou, Su Yue and the other maids left the chamber.

Pei Jin laughed and laid on the bed next to Yan Shi Ning. ‘Wife, are you satisfied with my performance?’

Yan Shi Ning rolled over to avoid Pei Jin’s hug and she put the pillow between them. ‘Of course, you’re an expert liar.’

Yan Shi Ning remembered Pei Jin’s crestfallen face when she fell on the floor, his anger while scolding Su Yue and his feigned reluctance to punish Su Yue. If Yan Shi Ning didn’t know he followed her plan then she would have believed he was sincere.

‘Expert liar,’ Yan Shi Ning praised.

‘We’re the same,’ Pei Jin said.

Yan Shi Ning knew it was her plan and she couldn’t curse Pei Jin for following her plan.

Pei Jin pinched Yan Shi Ning’s cheek while she was distracted. ‘Go wash the white powder off your face. Putting a thick layer on your face isn’t good for your skin.’

Pei Jin’s prompt reminded Yan Shi Ning about her face. She quickly got out of bed and washed her face. She smiled while remembering the panic in Su Yue’s eyes when Su Yue saw her ghostly pale face from the thick layer of white powder she put on her face.

Yan Shi Ning glanced at the platform and rushed back to the bed. ‘Big brother, I ask you to choose an ordinary item to break. Why did you choose the vase the emperor gave you? It’s a pity to break an expensive vase.’

‘The main part of a good performance is to make it believable,’ Pei Jin said. ‘If I don’t choose something valuable then how can I summon deep emotions?’

Yan Shi Ning heard Pei Jin’s indifferent tone and she didn’t understand why he didn’t care about the vase the emperor gave him. Judging by Su Yue’s reaction after seeing the broken vase, it meant the vase must have been significant yet Pei Jin didn’t care.

Yan Shi Ning looked suspiciously at Pei Jin, but he draped an arm over his face and she couldn’t see his expression clearly.

Yan Shi Ning reflected on her plan. She would pretend she had a stomach ache and ask Su Yue to help her stand. If Su Yue had helped her stand then nothing bad would have happened. But if Su Yue didn’t help her then Su Yue would step back to avoid her, knock over the vase and be forced to accept punishment. She gave Su Yue a chance to show Su Yue’s compassionate side, it was a shame Su Yue didn’t value it. But Su Yue’s reaction didn’t disappoint her, Su Yue chose not to help her like she predicted.

Yan Shi Ning felt it was a pity she had to involve Pei Jin in her plan. She needed him to contribute a suitable item to be sacrificed and cooperate with her for a believable performance.

Initially Yan Shi Ning had doubts, she thought Pei Jin truly loved Su Yue and only pretended to keep his distance with Su Yue in front of her. When he said Su Yue had a ‘special background,’ she was worried if she reprimanded Su Yue it would cause him trouble, which was why she had to think deeply for a discreet plan. But she didn’t expect him to be agreeable and praised her plan, ‘Wife, I’ll use all my capabilities to cooperate with you.’

Indeed Pei Jin kept his promise to Yan Shi Ning and cooperated excessively with her to not give Su Yue a chance to evade punishment.

Yan Shi Nang held a wash cloth and dried her face. ‘Big brother, I only intended to scare her a little. Why did you punish her severely by isolating her in her chamber for a month?’

‘Wife, isn’t it you who didn’t want to see her face?’ Pei Jin asked. ‘Of course your husband has to grant your request.’

Yan Shi Ning saw Pei Jin licked his lips, she acted disgusted and looked in a different direction. But when he couldn’t see her face, she smiled. ‘Is that so? Big brother, then it appears you chose a light punishment for her. Your heart doesn’t want to part with her permanently.’

Pei Jin stood, put on his outer robe and spoke in a fake regretful tone. ‘Everyone knows me as gentle ninth prince. Of course a gentle ninth price needs to be merciful.’

Yan Shi Ning quietly glared at Pei Jin for a while. She picked up her fan and she walked outside. She realised he was someone who never forgets to wear his mask tightly in front of other people.

Pei Jin picked up the half eaten jujube that Yan Shi Ning didn’t finish eating, ate it and followed her outside. He smiled and purposely didn’t tell her that he had been planning of a way to force Su Yue outside his manor for a long time, because he wanted her to believe she owed him a favor.

‘Little lion, you haven’t paid me for helping you,’ Pei Jin teased.

Yan Shi Ning’s body tensed and she stood still. ‘Big brother, what do you want?’

Pei Jin stood beside Yan Shi Ning, kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. ‘I want you.’

Yan Shi Ning was speechless for a while before she aimed a kick in the direction of the scoundrel’s leg.

Suddenly a little boy ran to them. ‘Ninth prince, mistress, the palace delivered chests to the manor.’

Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning returned to their chamber and they opened the chests. She was surprised and suspicious why the emperor sent chests of silk fabrics, expensive jewellery and makeup.

Pei Jin expected his father would give those kind of gifts to Yan Shi Ning. He remembered his father’s embarrassment when someone insulted the way Yan Shi Ning dressed. Of course his father would give Yan Shi Ning beautiful clothes and jewellery to prevent other people from insulting his father’s family members. Also for his father to fool others that he wasn’t mistreated and warn other people that no one was allowed to look down on any of his father’s sons.

Pei Jin hid his disgust and smiled warmly at Yan Shi Ning. ‘Imperial father loves you, you can accept his gifts.’

Yan Shi Ning peered closely at Pei Jin’s face for a while. ‘Big brother, do you want to fool a dead person?’

***

End of Chapter Eleven