Chapter 43: A Husband’s Authority

When Pei Yuan came in, he hadn’t lit a lamp. The whole room was pitch black. Bao Ning sat on the bed, inside the canopy frame, while Pei Yuan was outside, separated by a silk screen. She could hear him yelling.

“Ji Bao Ning, I’m going to count to three. You better open the door!”

“Three!”

“Two!”

After shouting “two,” Pei Yuan deliberately waited a moment. Seeing there was still no movement, he began to panic.

But his pride wouldn’t allow him to soften, so he tried to hold firm, rapping on the door even harder, his voice rising in anger:

“Getting bold now, huh? You dare disobey me?!”

“I’ll give you one more chance.”

Pei Yuan gave a grunt — maybe to save face — then raised two fingers in the air and said,

“I’ll count again. If you still don’t open the door after I finish, Ji Bao Ning, you’d better think carefully about what happens next.”

“Three…”

“Two, I’m about to say two now.”

“Two!”

Suddenly, the wooden door flung open with a whoosh. Bao Ning stood atop the footstool of the canopy bed, looking down on him from above, eyes wide.

“Pei Yuan, you’re acting like a childish little dog!”

“Watch your tone! Who do you think you’re being so rude to?!”

Pei Yuan shot her a glare sharp as a blade. His face was grim — but inside, he was secretly relieved.

Good thing she opened the door. Otherwise, he really wouldn’t have known what to do. He couldn’t actually break the door down — that would only make Bao Ning ignore him for days. But he also couldn’t lower himself to beg her. The best outcome was for her to open the door on her own.

Pei Yuan still didn’t understand why she was angry, or why she had locked him out again.

But there was something more pressing: what exactly was she hiding in the bed?

“Move.” Pei Yuan stood and furrowed his brow, pushing Bao Ning aside to rummage through her bedding. He found nothing. That only made him more suspicious.

He’d clearly heard something strange earlier. He checked the bed again.

Bao Ning stood off to the side with her arms crossed, lips pressed together, not wanting to say a single word.

His jealousy was flaring again. And honestly — this time, he’d gone too far.

He hadn’t come home all night and offered not a single explanation. Then suddenly, in the middle of the night, he barged in, banging on the door and shouting. Now, he was even turning her bed upside down.

He might as well have stayed out — it would’ve been better if he just left again!

Ah Huang lay at her feet, its glowing green eyes watching Pei Yuan’s every move.

The canopy bed was built like a small room. Inside was the bed itself. Outside was a narrow footstool area with a small table and cabinet, and then a silk screen that acted as a door.

Pei Yuan stood on the footstool, staring at the mess he’d made of the bed, deep in thought for a long while. He finally started to realize… maybe he’d done something wrong.

To be fair, he hadn’t initially suspected Bao Ning of doing anything shady. He just wanted to ask nicely.

But she was the one who’d slammed the door in his face, kicked him out, and refused to let him in. So he had to put on a stern front and hold his ground.

Now, Pei Yuan felt awkward — even a little regretful — though he refused to admit it. He turned away, covering his discomfort with a cold voice:

“Why haven’t you lit the lamp yet?”

Bao Ning looked at him in disbelief:

“How can you even say that? You’re being completely unreasonable!”

She remembered, just half a month ago in the small courtyard, how Pei Yuan had gently held her and talked with her for a long time — apologizing, promising to treat her like a real wife from now on.

He’d even said if he ever did something wrong, he’d change.

She had been so moved. She thought he’d finally come to his senses.

But look at him now — just a few days later, back to being a sulky-faced monkey.

“What can’t I say?” Pei Yuan replied seriously. “The husband is the head of the wife. If I speak, you

obey.”

Bao Ning was so furious her fingertips turned cold.

Normally, she would’ve been afraid of Pei Yuan. But today — maybe she’d grown bolder, or maybe he had just made her too angry — she didn’t even want to make small talk.

Barefoot, she walked past him and plopped herself down on the edge of the bed, pointing outside:

“Do as you please. If you want to throw a tantrum, go do it outside. Don’t come in here and disturb my peace.”

Pei Yuan gave a cold hmph.

After a while of stiff silence, he finally gave in. He got the firestone himself and lit the lamp.

The room lit up suddenly.

Behind the silk screen, a small lamb poked out half its head, staring at Pei Yuan’s back with a confused look. When Pei Yuan turned around, he locked eyes with it.

“What the hell is that?!”

The lamb bleated: “Baa—”

Pei Yuan froze for a long moment, a vein twitching at his brow.

“Ji Bao Ning, you’d better explain this to me.”

Bao Ning’s eyes were red as she looked at him.

“Pei Yuan, you better stop calling me by my full name. I really don’t like it.”

She was talking back now. Pei Yuan was stunned for a moment. His fists clenched at his sides — then, after a pause, he finally relented:

“…Bao Ning.”

“Mm,” Bao Ning responded softly.

She kept her head down. Her hair fell smoothly over her shoulders. From Pei Yuan’s angle, all he could see was her clean, full forehead and the tip of her slightly red nose.

Whenever she cried, her eyes would redden first, then her nose — he’d seen it many times. And now, seeing it again, all the anger in his heart evaporated into nervousness and guilt.

“Wait — things were going okay, why are you crying again?”

He walked over to her and sat beside her, his tone noticeably softer.

“You’re the one who kicked me out. How can you be the one to complain?”

Bao Ning still kept her head down.

“I didn’t mean to. I saw a shadow and thought it was an intruder.”

Pei Yuan cupped her chin and lifted her face. Seeing that her eyes were only red — no tears yet — he let out a breath of relief.

“The General’s Manor is heavily guarded. Not even a strange bird could fly in. No intruders.”

He no longer sounded confrontational. There was even a trace of coaxing in his tone:

“Alright, alright. I was wrong. Next time I come back this late, I’ll knock first so I won’t scare you.”

Bao Ning thought to herself — she really had read him right. Pei Yuan was the type who responded better to softness than to defiance. The more you argued with him, the more stubborn he became. Who knew what madness he might throw at you?

But if you just ignored him — maybe shed a few tears — he’d immediately become obedient.

She whispered:

“I waited for you the whole night yesterday.”

P

ei Yuan had been distracted by the lamb and didn’t hear her clearly.

“What?”

“Where were you last night? You didn’t even send a message. Were you really that busy?” Bao Ning looked at him.

“I didn’t know what you were doing. I was worried. I waited all night for you — but you just didn’t come back.”

Bao Ning asked:

“Don’t you think you were being too much?”

Pei Yuan had nothing to say.

Last night, Pei Yuan had been discussing important matters with someone until very late. Feeling exhausted, he ended up crashing in Qiu Mingshan’s study for the night and completely forgot to let Bao Ning know. He had thought about sending a message, but ultimately dismissed it — partly because it was troublesome, but mostly because he didn’t think it necessary. It never occurred to him that Bao Ning would wait up for him.

Now, guilt gnawed at Pei Yuan even more. As he calmed down and reflected on his earlier behavior, he rubbed his fingertips together, uncertain how to make amends.

Bao Ning didn’t expect him to be remorseful. She just needed to get it off her chest. If next time he could at least send word, she would be satisfied.

“We’ve been at this long enough. You must be tired too,” Bao Ning sighed and turned to make the bed. “Go to sleep early. Don’t you have to get up early tomorrow?”

Pei Yuan stared at her back in silence, then suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm. “Wait a second.”

Bao Ning had already calmed down. She was smoothing the pillows and didn’t turn her head. “What is it?”

“Close your eyes first,” Pei Yuan said. “Close your eyes and do exactly what I say. I’m going to show you something good.”

“Stop being so mysterious. Just show it to me,” Bao Ning said as she finished tidying up and sat on the bed, looking at him. “Aren’t you tired?”

Pei Yuan’s lips tightened. “Just do what I say.”

With no choice, Bao Ning closed her eyes. “Then be quick about it.”

Pei Yuan cleared his throat awkwardly and turned his back to her, then pointed to the top of his head. “Put your hands here.”

Bao Ning did as told. Pei Yuan then reached for her thigh.

Startled, Bao Ning exclaimed, “What are you doing?”

“Just follow my lead,” Pei Yuan said irritably. “Don’t open your eyes. Move with me.”

Bao Ning pressed her lips together. She relaxed slightly and let Pei Yuan lift her leg upward. With her eyes closed, she could only rely on sensation. It felt like her leg had been placed on his shoulder.

“What… what are you doing?” Bao Ning asked nervously. “Don’t mess around — I’m scared.”

“Relax, I won’t drop you,” Pei Yuan said. “You steady?”

Bao Ning responded with a shaky “Mm.” She was starting to regret pushing against him earlier. She was no match for him in strength — what was she thinking? And now she’d fallen into one of his tricks.

Pei Yuan grabbed her other thigh, gripping her upper leg firmly and suddenly hoisted her up.

Bao Ning cried out in surprise and opened her eyes — only to find herself awkwardly seated on Pei Yuan’s shoulders. Her legs hung down in front of his chest, and her hands instinctively clutched his jaw.

She was riding on his shoulders, like a little child being carried by their father in a playful game.

“If you scratch me again, I’ll throw you down,” Pei Yuan hissed. “Watch those claws!”

Bao Ning was already dazed. She simply did whatever he told her to and changed from using her fingernails to the soft pads of her fingers on his skin.

Pei Yuan gripped her legs to keep balanced and stood up steadily.

Suddenly, Bao Ning’s field of vision widened — from this height, she felt like a giant. The entire room came into view. Looking down, she saw Ah Huang and the little lamb staring up at her in wide-eyed amazement.

“I…” Bao Ning was a little scared but couldn’t stop herself from laughing. Her earlier gloom had vanished completely. She touched Pei Yuan’s face and couldn’t help but giggle. “What on earth are you doing?”

“Didn’t I screw up and now I’m trying to make it up to you?” Pei Yuan’s hands slid down to hold her ankles. “Just enjoy it. This’ll be the only time in your life you’ll get to sit on my shoulders. Ji Bao Ning, you’re the first.”

“It’s not like I forced you…” Bao Ning muttered, pouting. “Besides, I wasn’t that angry.”

Pei Yuan snorted. “You know yourself best.”

Bao Ning laughed even harder.

But mindful of Pei Yuan’s legs, she didn’t dare mess around too much and quickly asked to come down.

Pei Yuan didn’t really feel tired — just embarrassed. Even after putting her down, he kept a straight face.

The stunt had been pure impulse. He couldn’t stand seeing Bao Ning looking so wronged, but he wasn’t good with sweet talk — saying even one affectionate word was harder than climbing a mountain. So this was the best he could come up with.

He didn’t have the energy to deal with the lamb anymore. He blew out the lamp, didn’t bother washing up, and threw himself on the bed, grumbling, “Sleep.”

Bao Ning scooted over and asked tentatively, “Want me to rub your legs a bit?”

“Didn’t I say sleep?!” Pei Yuan snapped, slapping the bed. “We have to wake up early tomorrow. Say another word and I’ll throw you out.”

Bao Ning was used to this side of him and didn’t mind. She smiled to herself, tucked in his blanket, and lay on the other side.

Pei Yuan really was exhausted — he fell asleep quickly and began to snore softly.

Bao Ning lay on her side, secretly tugging at his hair. She thought to herself: Things between us are really strange. We haven’t had a proper conversation in ages. Finally saw each other again, and instead of sweet talk like other couples, we ended up fighting.

But still… something’s changed. That distant feeling between us is gone. It’s like we’re back in that little courtyard again. And more importantly, I’m not afraid to tell him how I really feel anymore.

And Pei Yuan really was changing — slowly but surely.

The next morning, Bao Ning woke up early. She was on familiar terms with the cooks in the kitchen by now, and with a bit of boldness, she borrowed a pot and prepared a hearty breakfast for Pei Yuan — a small gesture to reward him for all his hard work lately.

Pei Yuan, unusually, was still asleep. The room was quiet. Bao Ning watched his sleeping face for a while, then suddenly remembered something, and her heart skipped a beat.

Silently, she rolled up his sleeve and looked at the poison mark on his wrist.

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