If there was anything in which Pei Jue had felt discontent just monts ago, in this instant, as he beheld the gentle dimples framing her smiling face, all the heaviness seed to dissipate like smoke.
Lady Yun asked him to stay for the New Year.
Just that was enough to drive him wild with joy.
Unfortunately, his travel bag was already packed and everything was ready, leaving no room for him to stay.
"Having Lady Yun’s words is enough,"
he murmured, his voice low and warm breath falling on Feng Yun’s neck, causing a tingling sensation on her scalp.
She had just casually asked a question, yet he seed clearly different, his dark eyes holding a spark as if a cluster of fire leapt within them, brushing lightly and slowly, "Do you want this?"
Feng Yun lowered her head.
Seeing the veins on the back of his hand protruding, a sign of his restraint, the indescribable unease in the pit of her stomach strangely disappeared.
In this matter, she had never been able to hold out against Pei Jue, so she stopped pretending she could and, following her heart’s desire, she closed her eyes. Under his large hand, she was utterly defenseless, and a rush seed to surge from deep within her. Her heart rate quickened...
"Lady Yun..." Pei Jue’s breathing was in chaos, wishing he could crush those disheveled autumn glances on his fingertips.
Feng Yun’s body tensed up, letting out a cat-like moan. In an instant, he stole away the light above her head, and then her breath too. Her face heated as the hot air he exhaled lightly trembled, and with a whimper from her, he was upon her, sweeping away all her strength...
-
Everything around was eerily quiet.
Feng Yun woke from her disarray, lying languidly on the couch in her undergarnts, covered with a brocade robe, feeling utterly weak, not even wanting to open her eyes.
She didn’t know what ti it was.
She didn’t want to move or to ask.
No woman would look forward to a man getting dressed and leaving right after making love, and she was no exception... So when Pei Jue pulled her close, she naturally leaned into him, snuggling securely against his shoulder.
"I’m even starting to not want you to go,"
Pei Jue looked down, "Really."
Feng Yun humd softly, lifting her eyelids with a beguiling smile.
"After all, the King takes such good care of ."
She was joking.
Pei Jue pinched her face gently.
"Then co with to Xijing,"
he said casually. Feng Yun paused, pursing her lips as she looked at him, "You’re asking now, isn’t it a bit late?"
Pei Jue’s gaze deepened, "After the New Year, I will take you back. Will you agree?"
"I’ve never been to Xijing, so why not? I’d like to have a bit of fun. But..."
Her voice trailed off and Pei Jue’s expression darkened before she sighed, "I haven’t arranged anything, I can’t just leave everything here and go."
Pei Jue felt a tightness in his throat. For a mont, he didn’t know what to say.
Feng Yun nudged him with her elbow, "Why not wait for a few more days, Your Majesty?"
Waiting a few more days would an the New Year would arrive, and there was also the Imperial Carriage awaiting. Pei Jue simply couldn’t leave.
She knew it.
Pei Jue knew it as well.
He didn’t know if Feng Yun did it on purpose, but since she brought it up, he naturally wanted to satisfy her.
"I’ll wait for you at Baihe Pass."
He spoke earnestly, his eyes unblinkingly fixed on Feng Yun, "With the Imperial Carriage present, the convoy moves slowly. Lady Yun, if you hurry, you can catch up in three to five days."
Feng Yun saw his serious tone and forced back the joke that was on the tip of her tongue.
Pei Jue, seeing that she remained silent, continued, "If you can’t make it in ti, just follow at your own pace, I will co back to et you."
Feng Yun’s gaze fell into his eyes, and she couldn’t bring herself to utter a word of refusal. His eyes were too sincere; she didn’t want to disappoint him.
She spoke slowly after taking enough ti to think, uttering just one word.
"Okay."
A perfectly fine man, because she had complied, suddenly had a fervent look in his eyes, his blood surging, his heartbeat nearly bursting forth. Feng Yun hadn’t even had ti to dress, and he had taken his chance to co back on top of her once more.
Perhaps too excited, his desire found an explosive outlet, and this ti he was a bit rough. Feng Yun’s waist was pressed into the soft cushion, sore in an inexplicable way, and she was so annoyed she pinched him hard.
"I shouldn’t have shown a mont of weakness and agreed to you."
"It’s my fault." Pei Jue was never as flustered in front of her as he was today, his movents unusually clumsy. He wanted to coax her but didn’t know how to begin, only capable of lowering his head to kiss her and stroke her hair, much like an adult soothing a child.
Feng Yun found herself ticklish from his fussing, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"You better hurry, my king. If you don’t leave now, you’ll miss the convoy."
"No rush, I’ll stay with you a bit longer. It’s fine as long as I catch up before nightfall."
"Don’t keep His Majesty waiting too long, I wouldn’t feel at ease." Feng Yun pushed him gently. Although her words said one thing, inside she was frightened.
Today, this man was too abnormal, too excited. If she stayed any longer, he would be pleased to go another round, and she would be done for.
"Hmm." Pei Jue slightly loosened his hold on her, his eyes affectionately lingering on her face, then he leaned down to kiss her forehead, every word tinged with reluctance.
"I will take my leave first; you take your ti."
"Hmm." Feng Yun blushed under his gaze, pushing him gently. Her eyelashes trembled, her entire face flushing.
Pei Jue got up to dress. "Lady Yun, I’m leaving."
Feng Yun kept her eyes closed, not responding, as if she were extrely tired. Pei Jue bent down to tuck the corner of her blanket and stood by the bedside for a mont before he strode away.
Feng Yun listened to him ordering the maids to prepare water outside, and to his footsteps gradually receding, before she slowly opened her eyes and sighed.
Wasn’t this asking for trouble?
Won really shouldn’t be soft-hearted; n always take an inch and want a mile.
-
Pei Jue caught up with the main force before nightfall.
The convoy had deliberately slowed down to wait for him.
The others noticed that the king looked much better than he had in the morning. Although he was still not smiling, his eyes were bright, and occasionally, they could catch a fleeting hint of amusent.
Jiu You and Zuo Zhong exchanged glances.
"Am I seeing things? Is the king smiling?"
"No," Zuo Zhong firmly said. "The king is indeed a bit different."
Jiu You hissed, chin in hand, "What happened? Is it sothing we don’t know about?"
Zuo Zhong pursed his lips, not having had the chance to reply, when suddenly Pei Jue rode over to them. He quickly shut his mouth and tightened the reins, stepping forward to report:
"My king, the Female Historian Lin ca just now to say His Majesty is sowhat tired. We plan to reach Pingle rest stop to lodge for the night."
Pei Jue humd in agreent, "Pingle is a large rest stop. Since His Majesty is feeling unwell, it wouldn’t hurt to stay another day to let him rest."
Zuo Zhong was slightly startled.
This was not like how the king usually conducted his affairs...
Normally, when rushing on the road, not even a quarter of an hour could be spared, let alone a whole day?
Was it because His Majesty was accompanying them?
They did not dare to guess otherwise and quickly went down to handle the arrangents.
Pei Jue hesitated for a mont before walking up to Pei Chong’s carriage.
Pei Yao was looking after their father in the carriage with the two children when Pei Jue coughed from outside.
"Father."
Pei Yao hurriedly pulled back the curtain, and seeing the unusual expression on his face, she could not help but wonder.
"What’s the matter? Just speak if you have sothing to say."
Pei Jue said, "Lady Yun is going to Xijing for the New Year."
Pei Yao was montarily stunned, then broke into a smile, looking at him with an understanding expression as if all was clear to her.
"Look at you, no longer a child and yet acting like Xiaoqi. Did the two of you fail to agree on sothing beforehand, or are you being petulant? You didn’t leave together at the start, and now you chase after halfway, not afraid of being the joke of others, behaving like children playing house..."
There was no expression on Pei Jue’s face.
Pei Chong wore none either.
However, Azuo and Ayou were visibly delighted.
Pei Yao coughed lightly to suppress her teasing deanor and said, "It’s proper for a family to spend New Year’s together. This is sister-in-law’s first ti visiting our residence, so we must send soone on a fast horse back ho to tidy things up; make sure she’s treated well and not neglected."
Pei Jue humd in response.
Only then did Pei Yao look around.
"Where are they? Why don’t I see them?"
Pei Jue replied, "She has to arrange things in Changn first and probably won’t catch up until a few days later."
Pei Yao nodded, not saying anything more.
Pei Chong, however, opened his eyelids and looked at him, saying, "You go to et her."
Pei Jue glanced at the procession and tightened the reins, slowing the horse’s pace, "We can just go slower; Lady Yun will catch up."
Pei Chong knew what he was worried about and pursed his lips, saying no more.
Just then, a commotion arose from the rear of the caravan.
Everyone looked back to see it was the Ao Family’s procession, and soone’s retching could be faintly heard.
Pei Jue sent soone to inquire and soon received news.
"Reporting to the king, a lady from the Ao Residence fell ill from the weariness of the journey and vomited," the ssenger inford.
Before Pei Jue could reply, Ao Qi approached on horseback.
First, he paid his respects to his elders, then spoke, "The procession is moving too slowly; at this rate, we’ll barely reach Xijing by the end of the twelfth lunar month. Perhaps it would be better to split up and travel separately..."
It was one of the Ao Family’s concubines who had been sick.
Ao Qi was not accustod to such delicacy and was quite unwilling to travel with them, hoping to quicken the pace.
Pei Yao said, "It can’t go any faster; if it does, your aunt will not be able to keep up."
Ao Qi was taken aback, "My aunt is going to Xijing?"
Pei Yao glared at him, "What are you talking about? This isn’t about going to Xijing; this is about your aunt returning ho."
Ao Qi bowed his head, consenting with a "Yes."
When he looked up again, Ao Qi was montarily lost in thought.
He vaguely rembered once inviting Feng Yun to the capital in his naivety and straightforwardness.
Feng Yun had accepted his invitation.
Back then, he had thought about finding a chance to bring her ho...
Now recalling it, it seed like a fleeting dream.
"Ao Qi!" A woman’s voice called from the distance.
Ao Qi’s brow furrowed.
In the Ao Family, only his new bride would call him by his full na.
"What is it?"
His voice was low and carried a trace of displeasure, yet the woman seed not to notice it, calling out to him loudly again.
"Co quickly and look at this water pouch; I can’t get it back in..."
If it can’t be put back, aren’t there servant won?
And if the servant won can’t manage, there are guards...
Why must she call for him?
Ao Qi muttered under his breath, quite impatient, but in the presence of so many onlookers, he didn’t voice his complaint, bid farewell to the elders with a huff, and went over...
After tucking the water pouch back in its place, he returned it.
Amir, watching him with a stern face, was also displeased.
"Ao Qi, have you seen my thing?"
"What thing?"
"A bone knife. My brother personally sharpened it and gave it to ."
"I haven’t seen it."
"I carry it with every day, how have you not seen it?"
"Just because you carry it doesn’t an I’ve seen it. I don’t look at you."
"If you’re not looking at , then who are you looking at?"
"..."
The young couple argued in hushed tones.
The surrounding servants bowed their heads as if they’d heard nothing.
The mountain wind howled while the caravan moved slowly.
Soon, everything fell silent again.
Ao Qi rode on his horse, slowly turning back for a glance, lost in a somber reverie.
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