Chapter 66 (2/2)

Later that day a simple funeral was held for Consort La at the palace. Yan Shi Ning was pregnant and wasn’t allowed to attend the funeral. She could only watch at a far distance. Pei Khan was too little so she couldn’t see him and had to wait for Pei Jin to ask about Pei Khan.

‘Pei Khan silently cried,’ Pei Jin said. ‘I don’t know if Consort La’s death has hurt him mentally but now he can’t say even say two words.’

‘Pei Jin, go console Pei Khan,’ Yan Shi Ning said.

‘I want to but he’s surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs,’ Pei Jin said. ‘I won’t have an opportunity to talk privately with him.’

Yan Shi Ning felt helpless.

Pei Jin held Yan Shi Ning’s hand. ‘In another three days I’ll take you to visit Pei Khan.’

Yan Shi Ning worried about Pei Khan. She knew the emperor didn’t favour Consort La because the emperor was ashamed of Pei Khan since he couldn’t speak. So the people in the palace wouldn’t care about Pei Khan.

‘Wife, is the little fox inside your stomach troubling you again?’ Pei Jin asked.

‘What little fox?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

Pei Jin was happy to see Yan Shi Ning smile. ‘Wife, after little fox is born let’s conceive a little lion… we can’t… let’s wait another two years before we conceive a little lion.’

Yan Shi Ning was speechless. She understood why Pei Jin didn’t want their child to have a sibling too soon. Suddenly she heard a noise. ‘Pei Jin, there’s someone else here.’

Pei Jin looked at a small hidden spot. ‘Thirteenth brother?’

Pei Khan looked around the room. He didn’t see anyone else and crawled out of his hiding spot.

‘Thirteen brother, why are you here?’ Yan Shi Ning asked. ‘Where are your palace maids and eunuchs?’

Pei Khan’s teary eyes stared at Yan Shi Ning’s big stomach, it made Yan Shi Ning’s heart ached.

Pei Jin knelt in front of Pei Khan. ‘Thirteenth brother, did you hide here by yourself?’

Pei Khan pointed a finger at Pei Jin.

‘Thirteenth brother, were you waiting for me?’ Pei Jin asked.

Pei Khan nodded his head.

‘Thirteenth brother, what did you wanted to tell me?’ Pei Jin asked.

Pei Khan pulled out a hairpin and gave it to Yan Shi Ning, it was the butterfly hairpin she didn’t accept from Consort La.

***

End of Chapter Sixty-Six