Chapter 26.4

Pei Yan spoke again, “If you like that kind of fabric, I will send someone to purchase a batch tomorrow…”

Recalling his spendthrift shopping style, Tao Ti didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry, and hurriedly said, “Don’t! I made several summer clothes not long ago, and it’s enough for me for an entire summer. Besides, I bought this brocade for you.”

There was a rippling in Pei Yan’s indifferent eyes. “You bought it for me?”

Tao Ti’s eyes curved into a smile, “Yes. I thought that colour would suit you very well, and the cloud and crane pattern is also quite beautiful. The fabric is soft and light, and would be perfect for a summer robe.”

Her smile was so pure, and her dark eyes seemed to have been washed by raindrops, so clear that it was ridiculous.

Pei Yan’s heart throbbed slightly.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, “Why… are you so nice to me?”

Tao Te’s little head tilted to the side as she said without hesitation, “Well, we’re friends. You are good to me, so I have to be good to you too, of course.”

Pei Yan’s stared fixedly at her, “Friends?”

At his question, Tao Ti suddenly felt a little awkward. “Uh, is that not the case?” Could it be that he doesn’t consider me his friend? Then, it’s just my one-sided wishing thinking… Ah, that’s very awkward!

Pei Yan was silent for a moment, only giving her a gentle smile.

Seeing him smile, Tao Ti took it as his acquiescence.

Yet, Pei Yan knew very well that he didn’t want to be her friend.

He wanted to be her man.

——————

Nighttime, at the Zhou residence.

With a stern face, Left Grand Councillor Zhou Pinglin looked at his wife, Madam Liu, and his crying daughter, Zhou Muyan, and couldn’t help scolding, “Cry, cry, cry, you only know how to cry! Weren’t you very capable when you were snatching other people’s things in public?!”

Zhou Muyan sobbed, “She was wearing a veiled hat and didn’t show her face, how would I know she’s the Crown Princess!”

Madam Liu echoed, “That’s right, no one knew that the Crown Prince would accompany the Crown Princess out of the palace… Sigh, Yan’er is really unlucky this time…”

“Unlucky?!” Zhou Pinglin slammed the cup in his hand down and said angrily, “You still have the nerve to say that, huh?! If you hadn’t spoiled her, how would she dare to be so presumptuous outside? How embarrassing, how very embarrassing!”

Madam Liu didn’t dare to retort and only lowered her head meekly.

Zhou Pinglin directed his sharp gaze straight at Zhou Muyan and said severely, “Go back to your room now. You’re not to take one step out of the house for a month—reflect on yourself properly!”

“Ah? I can’t, Father, I have to go to Duke Ping’s house for the flower-viewing feast the day after tomorrow.”

“You even dare to disobey me now, huh?” Zhou Pinglin’s brows were knitted tightly into a frown. He was furious and vexed—what kind of sin did he commit to have raised a daughter that was as stupid as a pig?!

Zhou Muyan bit her lip, still wanting to argue, “Father, I…”

Madam Liu could tell that Zhou Pinglin was really angry this time, and hurriedly tugged on Zhou Muyan’s sleeve and gave her a look.

Zhou Muyan had no choice but to shut up obediently.

“Alright, Yan’er, go back to your room first.” Madam Liu led her out of the room, then instructed the housekeeper in a raised voice, “Send her back to her room. Keep an eye on her and don’t let her run away.”

Zhou Muyan frowned and said in a spoiled manner, “Mother!”

Madam Liu patted her hand and said in a low voice, “Be good. When your father’s anger subsides after a while, Mother will plead for you.”

Now that things have become like this, Zhou Muyan had no other choice.

Zhou Muyan pursed her lips and thought bitterly, It’s all that Tao Ti’s fault! She was annoying in the past, but after getting married, she’s even more annoying now!

Back inside, Madam Liu shut the door and said soothingly, “Husband, there’s no need to be so angry, it’s not a big deal. His Highness has always been good-natured and magnanimous, he won’t take it to heart! Even if he speaks to you about this, just promise that you’ll discipline her properly at home… He’s just a sick weakling, after all, and won’t be able to sit in the position of Crown Prince for long.”

“Shut up!” Zhou Pinglin glared at her. “Is that something you can say without thinking?”

Madam Liu pressed the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, thinking, Why bother pretending? We’re people who share the same bed—isn’t that what you’re thinking as well?

Zhou Pinglin sighed, “It’s not like you don’t know how much His Majesty loved Empress Gu back then. Now that she’s no longer here, he gave all of that love to the Crown Prince. Even if the Crown Prince said he wanted the moon in the sky, His Majesty would try all means to get it down for him!”

Madam Liu was silent. Of course she knew how beloved Empress Gu had been back then.

If it weren’t because Empress Gu wouldn’t let him, Emperor Zhaokang had almost dismissed his entire harem for her. In fact, when the eldest prince passed away, in order to make Empress Gu’s child the eldest son, he favoured her alone. When the now Empress Zhou unexpectedly got pregnant back then, he would have made her drink an abortion decoction if Empress Gu hadn’t intervened.

Later, as soon as Pei Yan was born, he was made the crown prince. To show his favour and regard for this child, Emperor Zhaokang pardoned all criminals and held a celebration feast for seven days and seven nights.

Unfortunately, Empress Gu didn’t have the fortune to bear this favour, and her life was snuffed out way before her time.

Later, when it was found that the Gu family was planning a rebellion, Emperor Zhaokang did not kill them and only exiled them to the Northwest. It had been twenty years since then…

“So what if she was favoured? She didn’t have good fortune, and neither does her son,” muttered Madam Liu. She lowered her voice and said, “In two years, the third prince will become the crown prince, and the position of our Zhou family will be stable then!”

“You’d better keep your mouth shut.” Zhou Pinglin glared at her and said gravely, “As long as the Crown Prince is still alive, let’s not provoke him!”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

“Prepare some generous gifts. Go to the palace tomorrow to see the empress and ask her to put in a good word. As for the crown prince, I’ll apologise to him after morning assembly tomorrow… Sigh, it’s all because of the good daughter you raised, causing all this trouble for no reason!”

The more Zhou Pinglin thought about it, the angrier he became. After giving a few more instructions, he left the main courtyard and went straight to the concubine’s courtyard to relieve his worries.

Early the next morning, Zhou Pinglin went to court, and Madam Liu also went to the palace with generous gifts.

The warm spring sun enveloped the Zhou residence, and it was quiet and peaceful.

However, when it was almost noon, a terrifying scream suddenly rang out from the inner manor——

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! My face!!”

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