Chapter 140: Sweetness

Pei Yuan forced himself to maintain his composure, asking coolly, “What is the meaning of this?”

Bao Ning sat up, the sheer gauze barely veiling the view before her. Mustering her courage, she said in a soft, drawling voice, “It’s been a long time since we’ve been intimate. I missed you a little.”

The moment those words left her mouth, the look in Pei Yuan’s eyes completely shifted.

She had absolutely no idea how incredibly seductive she was acting—the shy, timid cadence of her voice, looking like a fragile, yielding flower practically begging to be ruined.

With heavy steps, Pei Yuan walked over to her. Leaning down slightly, his fingers pinched her chin as he asked in a low murmur, “You need to be specific. Where exactly did you miss me?”

Bao Ning hadn’t expected such a blatant response. She froze for a second, her gaze turning misty and dazed.

Pei Yuan stared intensely at her. As their breaths mingled, Bao Ning’s heart beat even faster. She whispered, “I missed you in my heart.”

“Wrong, you little liar,” Pei Yuan chuckled, his gaze sliding downward. “Aside from your heart, where else missed me?”

Bao Ning instantly caught his drift, her face flushing a deep, brilliant crimson.

Her lips parted and closed, utterly unable to voice it. Terrified by his wicked teasing, regret washed over her, and she tried to shrink back.

The moment her body tilted backward even a fraction, Pei Yuan caught her by the arm. “Alright, let’s skip that. Let’s change the question.”

His voice was thick and raspy as his hand moved to the back of her neck, stroking it slowly. “…Point it out to me.”

Bao Ning finally sensed that something was off with him. He had never been like this before; though he usually lacked a moral compass, he wouldn’t corner her repeatedly like this. Right now, Pei Yuan resembled a placid lake on the surface, beneath which ran a violent, turbulent undercurrent.

He pressed further, demanding, “…Tell me. Or just touch it, that works too.”

Bao Ning couldn’t help but shiver.

Pei Yuan’s eyes darkened to an pitch-black hue, and with a sudden whoosh , he swept her up into his arms. The sheer gauze fluttered down onto the floor. He strode over to the dressing table, setting Bao Ning down right in front of the mirror before unbuckling his own belt.

Bao Ning’s fingers gripped the edge of the table, watching it all unfold with wide eyes.

When the last layer of clothing hit the floor, Pei Yuan pressed himself against her, leaning down to trap her lips in a fierce kiss.

……

In the end, Bao Ning drifted off into a deep, exhausted sleep. Not a single one of the questions she had intended to ask ever made it out of her mouth; Pei Yuan had acted as if he were entirely possessed.

……

By the time Pei Yuan finally found his release, Bao Ning couldn’t help but sob out loud, profoundly relieved that the ordeal was finally over.

She must have lost her mind to have come up with such a terrible plan—practically delivering herself right into the wolf’s mouth like a piece of fresh meat.

Pei Yuan carried her back to the bed.

The moment Bao Ning’s head hit the pillow, she surrendered to sleep, completely missing the overwhelming tenderness that flooded Pei Yuan’s eyes, and the gentle kiss he pressed against her sweat-dampened forehead.

The next morning, well before dawn broke, Pei Yuan got out of bed.

Seeing him emerge, Nanny Liu, who was watching a servant sweep the courtyard, asked in surprise, “Your Highness, isn’t today your day of rest? Why are you up and heading out so early? Breakfast won’t be ready for a bit, would you like to wait?”

Pei Yuan kept walking forward. “No need. I’m making a trip to the palace and will be back shortly.”

Remembering something, he paused and instructed, “Take good care of the Princess. When she wakes up, ensure she eats something first before you help her bathe. She absolutely must eat before bathing; it won’t matter how much she argues otherwise.”

“Also, persuade her to take another dose of her medicine. If she refuses, go buy some sugar candies for her.”

“If she asks about me, tell her I should be back around noon and not to wait for me for lunch. Tell her I’ll bring some pastries back, so she shouldn’t stuff herself with too many snacks; leave some room in her stomach.”

“Furthermore, if I can’t make it back by noon, take her to go take a nap. Once you see she’s fast asleep, close the windows tight. Don’t let the wind blow on her.”

Pei Yuan pondered for a brief moment, and realizing nothing else was left out, he nodded. “That will be all.”

Nanny Liu noted down every instruction and saw him out.

Chen Jia hadn’t woken up yet, so Pei Yuan went to the stables to fetch his horse himself.

The very first ray of dawn was just piercing through the horizon; it was going to be a beautiful day. Pei Yuan looked up at the sky—it was calm, free of wind and clouds, mirroring his current state of mind.

Yesterday’s peace had been a facade; today’s was real.

Pei Yuan recalled the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival when they had visited the palace. Bao Ning had sat beside him on the stone steps of the Imperial Garden and told him that she would be his bedrock. Back then, he hadn’t fully grasped the weight of those words, but now he understood. Having a bedrock meant that with Bao Ning by his side, he feared absolutely nothing.

Bao Ning was the greatest blessing the heavens could have ever bestowed upon him. As for everything else—whether he possessed it or not—it was merely a trivial bonus.

It was the hour of Chen (around 7–9 AM) when he arrived at Changxin Palace. Emperor Zhou was a diligent ruler; even when his officials were off-duty, he would rise early to review unfinished memorials. Normally at this time, Emperor Zhou would have finished breakfast, practiced his swordplay for fifteen minutes, and would be sitting in the main hall of Changxin Palace reading.

Pei Yuan had timed his arrival precisely, yet he came up empty.

The Head Eunuch, Jiang Yan, was there. When Pei Yuan inquired about the Emperor’s whereabouts, Jiang Yan replied, “Someone from the Palace Judiciary came by this morning saying that Lady Gao demanded to see His Majesty. She was throwing a massive tantrum, threatening life and limb, claiming she had a matter of vital importance. His Majesty left nearly half an hour ago. Calculating the time, he should be back shortly. Please have some tea and wait a moment, Fourth Prince.”

Noble Consort Gao had already been stripped of her title, but since she was once an imperial consort, it wasn’t fitting to lock her in the Ministry of Justice’s dungeons. Instead, she was being held temporarily in the cells of the Palace Judiciary.

Pei Xiao had also been deposed from his position as Crown Prince and was currently held in the Ministry of Justice’s cells.

Two days had passed since the incident, yet Pei Xiao still refused to confess to his crimes. He insisted he had absolutely no knowledge of the plot and claimed he was maliciously framed. He had even seized a moment when the guards weren’t looking to smash a teacup and slash his own throat, attempting suicide to prove his innocence. Fortunately, he was discovered in time and saved, suffering only a bit of blood loss.

Pei Yuan found it rather amusing. Pei Xiao was truly a master of the bitter flesh strategy; the moment a plan spun out of his control, he resorted to self-mutilation.

However, the evidence this time was so irrefutable, yet he still hadn’t lost heart and dared to stake his life on a desperate gamble. This was what genuinely astonished Pei Yuan.

Pei Yuan recalled Noble Consort Gao’s gaze that day. Perhaps she really… had a trump card left up her sleeve.

The cells of the Palace Judiciary were located underground—dark, damp, and freezing cold, with vermin crawling all over the straw mats.

With her hair tangled and disheveled, a pale Noble Consort Gao sat hugging her knees. The dull look in her eyes instantly flared to life when she heard the rattling of the door lock.

Emperor Zhou walked in with a heavy frown, casting a look of pure revulsion at her. “Why have you summoned Zhen (me)? If it is to reminisce about the past, save your breath.”

“Every single one of those deeds was perpetrated by me alone; it has absolutely nothing to do with Xiao’er. I was the one who framed the First Prince and the Fourth Prince. I was the one who secretly poisoned the Empress all this time. I was the one who set the trap to murder the Fourth Princess Consort. Xiao’er was entirely in the dark.” Noble Consort Gao stood up, her voice still retaining its soft, seductive allure. “Whatever punishment there is, I will bear it entirely. If you wish to execute me, I deserve to die a thousand deaths. But my son is innocent. He must live.”

“Do you truly take Zhen for a fool?” Emperor Zhou glared at her with bitter hatred. “You, the Gao family behind you, and your son—you are all birds of a feather! The evidence is as solid as a mountain. Do you still harbor illusions that Zhen will believe you based solely on a mouth that has spoken nothing but lies?”

“You must believe me,” Noble Consort Gao said, staring straight into his eyes, enunciating every syllable. “Otherwise, I will expose all the vile, ugly atrocities you committed all those years ago!”

Her tone was vicious and venomous. Emperor Zhou froze, a faint trace of dread creeping into his heart.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Your Majesty, why play dumb?” Noble Consort Gao dragged the heavy shackles on her feet, gliding toward him with an elegant, poised gait. “Over the years, the Fourth Prince has never given up on uncovering the truth behind his mother’s death. With his capabilities, the fact that he hasn’t found a single shred of a clue after all this time… Your Majesty, why do you think that is?”

Emperor Zhou’s eyes snapped wide open as he stared at her in utter disbelief. “What are you trying to say?!”

“Because you were the one who murdered her!”

Emperor Zhou shoved her away with a violent strike of his palm, snarling, “Utter nonsense!”

Noble Consort Gao stared directly into his eyes and forged ahead. “I witnessed it with my own eyes. It was Eunuch Jiang Yan. Invoking your name as a pretext, he invited Consort Xian to Changxin Palace to dine with you, but instead led her to a deserted mountain ridge. Taking advantage of her lack of alertness, he shoved her into a cave that had already been excavated beforehand, sealing the entrance with a massive boulder. Then, he staged a fake scene to make it look like Consort Xian had accidentally tripped and fallen into the lake, pinning it on a miserable scapegoat as the ‘true culprit.’ Was it not so?”

Emperor Zhou’s breathing instantly grew ragged. “Pure fabrication! You venomous witch, you have gone utterly mad to spurn such lunatic ravings!”

“What are you feeling guilty for, Your Majesty?” Noble Consort Gao smiled. “You did it for the country and its people, didn’t you? You feared Consort Xian’s astrological destiny would truly bring ruin to the nation, and it just so happened to coincide with the century-level earthquake and flash floods. The Grand Imperial Astrologer urged you to execute Consort Xian to settle the matter, so you did. Yet, you didn’t dare tell anyone else, terrified of ruining your reputation and being branded a hypocrite and a heartless wretch. More than anything, you feared the Fourth Prince finding out. You know his temperament all too well; if he ever discovered the truth, it wouldn’t be beneath him to raise an army and rebel in a fit of rage. Look at how conflicted you were. What a pity—your flawless, watertight scheme was witnessed by me, clear as day.”

Emperor Zhou looked at her with sub-zero eyes. “Aside from you, who else knows of this?”

“Oh, far too many people,” Noble Consort Gao smiled fetchingly. “But if you spare Xiao’er’s life and let him live comfortably, then no one will ever utter a single word.”

Emperor Zhou roared, “He has committed a capital offense! The crime of treason and rebellion!”

“Your Majesty, do you truly wish to have no one to mourn you when you pass away, leaving your corpse exposed in the wilderness?” Noble Consort Gao interrupted him at the top of her lungs. “You ought to know what the consequences will be if this secret leaks out. The First Prince is missing, the Second Prince is a fool, Xiao’er will be dead, and the Fourth Prince will turn against you as a mortal enemy. The Fifth Prince is still a good lad, but will he truly do as you wish—return to inherit the grand lineage and stand as an enemy against the fourth brother he respects the most?”

Emperor Zhou raised his palm, his eyes completely bloodshot. After panting heavily a few times, a sharp slap echoed out as his hand struck Noble Consort Gao’s face.

Noble Consort Gao’s head snapped to the side from the force of the blow. She didn’t care; wiping away the blood from the corner of her lips, she asked, “Has Your Majesty made up your mind?”

Emperor Zhou gritted his teeth so hard they nearly shattered. “What do you want?”

“I won’t make things difficult for you. I am merely a mother who wants her son to live.” Noble Consort Gao’s eyes reddened. Suddenly dropping to her knees, she kowtowed and said, “Xiao’er’s position as Crown Prince has already been stripped. Let us stop here, Your Majesty! The war in the Southern Border is about to erupt. Xiao’er possesses the talent of a military commander and can serve the country. I beg Your Majesty to dispatch Xiao’er to the southern lands as a military supervisor to repel the Southern Barbarians!”

Emperor Zhou closed his eyes, taking a long time to stabilize his breathing before he slowly rasped, “But if the campaign fails, he is never to set foot back in the capital for the rest of his life.”

Overjoyed, Noble Consort Gao cried, “I reverently obey the imperial decree!”

Unwilling to look at her for a moment longer, Emperor Zhou flicked his sleeves and swiftly marched out of the dungeon.

When Jiang Yan saw him return to Changxin Palace, the Emperor’s eyes were completely bloodshot.

Not daring to pry, he said respectfully, “Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince has been waiting for a long time.”

Emperor Zhou gasped slightly, hastily looking up. Pei Yuan was standing a mere three paces away from him, preparing to perform a formal bow.

Emperor Zhou stopped him, saying, “No need.”

Conflict, guilt, and a myriad of emotions tangled into a knot within his heart, making Emperor Zhou somewhat hesitant to meet Pei Yuan’s gaze.

He said softly, “Yuan’er has suffered an injustice. Us will compensate you and grant you a proper justice.”

Pei Yuan was taken aback by such words. Frowning, he replied, “Your son did not come today for the sake of what happened that day.”

Emperor Zhou asked, “Then what is it for?”

Pei Yuan cupped his hands. “During the autumn harvest, the Xiongnu have been raiding and harassing the frontier, causing immense suffering to the border populace. Your son is willing to depart immediately to supervise the military and alleviate Your Majesty’s burdens!”

When he had first laid eyes on that letter, aside from absolute shock, Pei Yuan’s immediate instinct had been to flee.

However, self-deception was entirely uncharacteristic of him. Once he calmed down, he decided he had to personally meet Qiu Mingshan to demand a clear explanation of this entire web of cause and effect. No matter what the outcome turned out to be, he could accept it gracefully. If he truly did not possess the blood of the imperial family, Pei Yuan figured he would simply abandon everything he currently held, take Bao Ning to find a secluded village, and live a life free from interference.

But what if he was? Out of his duty as a prince and his loyalty to the imperial court, he ought to execute Qiu Mingshan, because the man harbored a treasonous heart that would pose a massive threat in the future. Yet, out of personal sentiment, he wouldn’t know how to strike… It was a agonizing dilemma.

Having finished speaking, Pei Yuan dutifully lowered his eyelids, concealing the thoughts churning in his eyes.

Staring at his expression, a massive tempest surged within Emperor Zhou’s heart. He asked blankly, “You… you want to leave the capital?”

He was terrified. The words Noble Consort Gao had uttered were ringing in his ears, instilling a genuine sense of dread. He couldn’t help but think: if that day truly came, and Pei Yuan abandoned him as well, leaving him without a single trustworthy heir by his side, how would he spend his twilight years? To whom would his empire be passed down?

If it truly came to that, the Pei family’s empire would be ruined in his hands. Setting aside whether he could meet a peaceful end, on the day he was buried deep beneath the earth, how would he face his ancestors?

Without waiting for Pei Yuan’s response, Emperor Zhou rejected the request bluntly. “There is no need for that. The capital is your home. Your fiefdom is merely your source of sustenance; there is no need for you to oversee it personally, as there are plenty of capable people guarding it well. Us is advanced in years now, and Our bodily ailments are multiplying. Us deeply requires your presence. It is best that you remain behind, so you may also share Our burdens.”

Emperor Zhou paused after delivering those words before adding, “The heir to the throne is the foundation of the state. The Eastern Palace cannot remain vacant indefinitely, and as it stands now, you are the only suitable candidate.”

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