When he entered, Pei Ziying was using hot water to wipe Huo Jingzhao’s face. Seeing the man on the bed, not a patch of good skin to be found on his entire body, Pei Lianyi averted his eyes and said: “Madam Huo is still waiting for news. I’ll go settle her in…”
“This is all Father’s fault.” Pei Ziying, who had not spoken a word since returning to the manor, suddenly said.
“Ziying…” Pei Lianyi’s slender frame swayed, as if struck hard in the back by a heavy hammer.
Pei Ziying put down the blood-red cloth. He looked at his father, his eyes full of sorrow and resentment: “Father always makes Jingzhao do things he doesn’t like. To curry favor with you, he could only swallow his displeasure and exhaustion, taking on those heavy burdens. It was all to curry favor with you… that he ended up in this state!”
“If Father truly wants what’s best for him, then don’t seek him out anymore.”
His red-rimmed eyes, his ice-cold words, were thousands upon thousands of sharp arrows, swiftly piercing through Pei Lianyi’s heart.
Pei Lianyi stood by the door. His posture was still tall and upright, his skin like pearl and jade, but inside, he had long been shattered and broken.
“Ziying, I…” Pei Lianyi couldn’t speak.
Cao Xian saw the Little Young Master and the Master starting to argue and quickly tried to mediate: “Little Young Master, the Family Head only wanted to temper Young Master Huo. For your future together…”
“Enough, I don’t want to hear it!” Pei Ziying cut him off indignantly, saying sharply: “Father clearly knows Jingzhao’s status is low, that he’s not worldly-wise, yet you keep pushing him. He is also a man with a sound body and mind, one unwilling to be poked and prodded behind his back. Of course he would try to prove himself to you!”
“He doesn’t know his limits—does Father also not understand?!”
“Little Young Master! You cannot speak to the Family Head like this! For you, he even…” …even risked his life!
“I understand.”
Pei Lianyi raised a hand, cutting off Cao Xian’s words. He pressed his lips together, revealing a rare, faint smile: “Jingzhao… will be left to Ziying.”
“We’re going back.”
At this moment, the lamplight was warm, the room unusually bright. Fine, faint lines gathered at the corners of Pei Lianyi’s eyes. His smile was reassuring and beautiful, but Cao Xian felt an unbreakable melancholy in his gaze.
It was only then he noticed that since returning from the Black Market, Pei Lianyi’s lips had held a frail, pallid white.
“Family Head, you…!”
“Ziying will take good care of Jingzhao.” Pei Lianyi said hoarsely. His words seemed to be both reassuring Cao Xian and speaking to himself.
After saying this, he didn’t look at the person on the bed again and quickly left the bedchamber.
Afraid he might collapse and have an accident halfway, Cao Xian stomped his feet anxiously at Pei Ziying and hurriedly chased after him.
But how could Pei Lianyi collapse at a time like this? He still had to settle his in-laws, find doctors, maintain the business… There were too many things to do—not even a moment to catch his breath.
Now, the embrace he had once thought he could rely on had also vanished. He would return to the Ancestral Hall, pay his respects, admit his mistakes, and sever that attachment.
Ever since Young Master Huo had fallen into a coma with severe injuries, the peaceful days of Pei Manor had been gone without return.
The first thing the Little Young Master asked every day was whether Jingzhao had woken up.
After learning the answer from the maids’ timid head-shakes, he would shut himself in his room and brew medicine all day.
They poured down plenty of rare and precious medicines, but Young Master Huo still showed no signs of waking.
The invited doctors also went in smiling but came out with long faces.
As for the Master, that was even stranger.
Normally, given how much the Master doted on and valued Young Master Huo, he would not abandon him. But with the man injured to this degree, the Master hadn’t visited even once and barely left his own room…
According to the night patrol, sometimes at night, one could see the Master sitting alone in the courtyard, a faintly visible white cloth wrapped around his wrist, with clear wine and snacks set on the table beside him.
Thus, whispers began circulating among the servants, saying the Master probably thought Young Master Huo was done for and was planning to find another live-in son-in-law. Maybe he’d already found one, which was why he was so indifferent to Young Master Huo, leisurely drinking alone under the moon.
Poor Young Master Huo… ‘Once inside a wealthy family’s gates, it’s deep as the sea’—a saying that’s no exaggeration!
Occasionally hearing these “crazy rumors,” Cao Xian rolled his eyes enormously and cursed out the gossipers.
Others might not know, but his heart was clear as a mirror: Pei Lianyi wasn’t ignoring him but was inquiring in his own way.
One night, Cao Xian unintentionally caught sight of him in the Kitchen area. Going closer, he saw Pei Lianyi rummaging through the medicinal dregs thrown out that day.
How could the Family Head’s precious body touch such filthy things?! Cao Xian rushed over to stop him, greatly alarmed.
That man, who couldn’t stand even a speck of dust, said he wanted to know what medicinal ingredients were left in the manor.
At first, Cao Xian found it strange. Later, he discovered Pei Lianyi’s notebook in the study.
It contained names of medicines, lunar dates, and water amounts.
Among all the account books, this notebook seemed very out of place, without head or tail. But coincidentally, every line matched Huo Jingzhao’s medication status.
Looking at those neat, orderly characters, Cao Xian didn’t know what feeling stirred in his heart.
When changing clothes, Pei Lianyi would also ask how many garments had been changed the day before.
If the maid answered two or three sleeping robes, he would smile faintly.
But if the maid said over ten, his expression would instantly become grave.
Only later did Cao Xian understand: the fewer bloodied clothes changed, the better Huo Jingzhao’s wounds were healing. If there was suddenly a frequent need to change them, it meant the wounds had split open—that he was suffering.
Ah, Family Head, Family Head… if you want to go see him, just go.
How many times had those words been on the tip of his tongue? But remembering Pei Ziying’s resentful words towards Pei Lianyi that night, Cao Xian swallowed them back down.
The Master and Young Master Huo should maintain some distance.
Even though he knew Pei Lianyi’s feelings towards Huo Jingzhao were merely those of cultivation and appreciation, for the sake of the Pei Clan’s future.
But a tiny spark should be extinguished before it could burn down a whole forest.
Yet these past days, even Pei Lianyi himself felt he was shameful, demonic, and debased.
He had verbally promised Ziying he wouldn’t see Huo Jingzhao again. But every day, he sought out things connected to the man—leftover medicine, changed sleeping robes, used cloths, even bits of bloodied gauze.
He shamelessly relied on these things to get through each day.
What made Pei Lianyi even more despairing was that he couldn’t stop. He was nearly driven mad by bone-deep longing.
Every night, he would lie prone on the soft couch, clutching the fabric in his hand, staring motionlessly out the window.
“Huo Jingzhao, if you don’t wake up soon, I’m going to die… I really am… already close to death.”
He closed his eyes and murmured to himself. His cool, detached voice trembled beyond recognition.
It was at this time that an uninvited guest arrived at the Pei Manor.
That afternoon, Pei Lianyi, who had stayed in the study all night and was dizzy and muddle-headed, wanted to get some fresh air in the courtyard. Passing by his son’s courtyard, he involuntarily slowed his steps.
Noticing his gaze, Cao Xian smiled and said: “Family Head, the Little Young Master said he borrowed a famous doctor from the Shi family. This person is from Shangjing, and is said to be deeply trusted by the imperial family…”
Pei Lianyi rubbed his brow without speaking.
“Perhaps… he can make Young Master Huo wake up.”
As the master and servant walked into the Waterside Pavilion, they met Pei Ziying heading towards them with a few people.
“Ah, that should be them…!” Cao Xian said.
Pei Lianyi lifted his eyes. Seeing the man in the black robe, the right side of his face damaged, his weary gaze darkened.
“Mister Wuya, the patient is over here… Father…?” After several days of not seeing him, Pei Ziying’s youthful face was considerably haggard.
At this moment, the father and son faced each other in silence, their expressions somewhat complicated.
“Lianyi, I was just about to go look for you! How have you been lately?” Shi Chengji behind him waved excitedly.
Pei Lianyi simply said indifferently: “Cao Xian, see the guests out.”
“Why?!” Seeing his father be so unaccommodating, Pei Ziying instantly grew anxious: “Family Head Shi and Mister Wuya came to visit Jingzhao, to treat his injuries! Mister Wuya is greatly capable…”
“Pei Ziying, hold your tongue.”
Pei Lianyi’s autumn-water pupils swept gently over his son’s little face, then shifted to Shi Wuya: “Even royalty and nobility must wait to be announced when they come to the Pei Manor. Yet a nameless nobody dares to trespass. Since you didn’t understand last time, I’ll say it again.”
“If you want to stay in Rongchu City, you abide by my rules.”
His tone was flat, but the words he uttered made people break out in a sweat.
What was wrong with Lianyi? Why was he suddenly so hostile? Shi Chengji was utterly baffled.
“But he can save Jingzhao—!” Pei Ziying said unwillingly: “He is the one I invited…”
“Cao Xian, what are you standing there for? See the guests out.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“Father…!!” Pei Ziying was both anxious and angry.
Pei Lianyi coldly turned to leave: “Starting today, besides the previous doctors, no one else is permitted to touch Huo Jingzhao.”
“Why does Father monopolize Jingzhao?! This is simply unreasonable!” Pei Ziying shouted furiously, grabbing the black-robed man beside him by the hand: “Mister Wuya, come with me.”
