Chapter 61 (1/2)

Chapter Sixty-One

The emperor’s question was a hidden dagger.

Pei Jin didn’t know how long the cold wind in his heart stirred.

‘Imperial father, I promise my heart will not change,’ Pei Jin said.

‘That’s good,’ the emperor said and left the calligraphy room.

The emperor walked past the kitchen and the past haunted him.

‘Big brother, I learned how to grill meat in Southern Jiang…’ Prince Chen Nan said.

That one memory ruined his happiness to hear his ninth daughter-in-law was pregnant.

The emperor’s imperial guards and imperial physicians escorted the emperor back to the palace.

Pei Jin’s manor returned to its lively atmosphere.

‘Your grandfather!’ Xiao Zai cursed. ‘Xiao Hui you purposely threw me over the wall! If I had landed on the emperor then I would have been cut into pieces! If you see me as an eyesore, you can tell me but don’t harm me like this. Say something. Don’t think I’ll spare you if you don’t say anything.’

Xiao Zai chased Xiao Hui around the courtyard.

‘Those two people are going to make me laugh to death,’ Yan Shi Ning said. She rubbed her stomach and pulled Pei Jin’s sleeve. ‘Pei Jin, what’s wrong? What did the emperor say to you in the calligraphy room?’

Pei Jin held Yan Shi Ning’s hand. ‘Nothing. Your father-in-law asked me to behave.’

‘Did the emperor find out about something?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

Pei Jin shook his head. ‘Perhaps someone said something to imperial father.’

Suddenly Pei Jin’s guard, Xiao Ting entered the courtyard.

‘What happened in the palace?’ Pei Jin asked.

Xiao Ting reported to Pei Jin about the court officials’ conflict over who should be the crown prince and left the courtyard.

Yan Shi Ning shivered, she thought Huang Guo would only spread the secret about her pregnancy.

‘Why would Huang Guo want to cause trouble in the palace?’ Yan Shi Ning asked

‘It appears I’ll need to visit Huang Guo,’ Pei Jin said coldly.

Yan Shi Ning knew Pei Jin wasn’t upset about Huang Guo, he was upset about the emperor’s reaction. Pei Jin was also the emperor’s son but the emperor’s warning showed that the emperor never wanted to give Pei Jin the opportunity to inherit the kingdom. She held Pei Jin’s cold hand and thought the old AH was lower than her neglectful and opportunistic father.

Pei Jin patted Yan Shi Ning’s hand. ‘Shi Ning, it’s alright. I’m used to it. You can’t expose your deadly temper.’

‘Pei Jin…’ Yan Shi Ning said.

‘Um?’ Pei Jin asked.

‘Pei Jin, why don’t we force that old AH who doesn’t want you to be his heir… have to open his mouth and beg you to be the crown prince?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

‘Then what?’ Pei Jin asked.

‘Then you’ll tell the old AH you don’t want to be his heir and let him be angry to death,’ Yan Shi Ning said.

Pei Jin hugged Yan Shi Ning. ‘Wife, that’s a good plan. Do you believe in your husband that much?’

‘Don’t think that I don’t know what you’re thinking,’ Yan Shi Ning said.

Pei Jin thought his little lion was more intelligent by the day. He kissed her and travelled to Huang Guo’s manor.

Later at Huang Guo’s manor, Pei Jin and Huang Guo sat opposite each other in Huang Guo’s calligraphy room.

‘Ninth prince, you must have heard what happened in the palace today,’ Huang Guo said.

‘Elder Guo, what are you alluding to?’ Pei Jin asked.

Huang Guo looked at Pei Jin’s cup of tea on the table. ‘The tea is prepared and ready for you to drink.’

Pei Jin understood Huang Guo’s motive. ‘In this period if I drink tea then I won’t be able to sleep.’