So gentle and considerate. Looking at the compromising and conciliatory man before him, Pei Lianyi, feeling wretched and bitter, felt his heart clench with a spreading, numbing ache. A blush surged across his cheeks.
He struggled fiercely within, terrified of hearing coercive words from Jingzhao, even more afraid of displeasing him. Yet Huo Jingzhao only made such simple requests, all concerning himself.
Pei Lianyi lowered his eyes and stared dazedly at the tips of his shoes.
“Is it alright?” Huo Jingzhao asked again. His voice remained clear, but a powerful, dark gleam flickered deep in his pupils.
“Mm.” Pei Lianyi agreed softly. At this moment, his head was lowered, so he didn’t notice the smile playing on the man’s lips. Under the shadows of the night moon, that smile was frivolous and wicked, carrying a chilling coldness.
Maintaining the posture of being slightly pressed against Huo Jingzhao for a long while, Pei Lianyi suddenly said gently, “It’s very late. We should go back.”
“I’ll escort you to your room.” The person beside him responded instantly.
“No…”
“Master Pei, please don’t refuse me this small thing.”
Before Pei Lianyi could refuse, Huo Jingzhao took his hand and led him away.
“Jingzhao, you…” Thank goodness it’s the dead of night, otherwise what would the servants think if they saw! Pei Lianyi widened his eyes in shock, yet couldn’t bear to pull free from the man’s calloused hand.
Watching Huo Jingzhao’s upright, steady figure from behind, a faint sweetness bubbled in his heart, but his mouth said hoarsely:
“Only to the entrance of the Main Courtyard. If you get too close… Cao Xian and the others will find out.”
Huo Jingzhao glanced back at him, drawing out his words. “I know, I know, my Master Pei.”
Hearing his lazy reply, Pei Lianyi’s face flushed again.
Huo Jingzhao averted his pitch-black eyes, his voice suddenly dropping low. “Of course, it can only be to the entrance. If you gave me a chance to come inside, I wouldn’t be able to bear leaving.”
His restrained, slow words made Pei Lianyi’s mind buzz, a blank emptiness spreading before his eyes. He completely forgot how to calm his inner turmoil, nor knew how to appease Huo Jingzhao. He could only hold the man’s hand in return, squeezing it twice as he followed him.
Feeling the fine, elastic skin in his grasp, Huo Jingzhao, walking in front, raised an eyebrow, his breathing becoming slightly heavier.
Fortunately, there’s a cool breeze tonight! It could slightly alleviate his “urgent need.”
The night was deep and thick. In the lavishly furnished, immaculate bedchamber adorned with gold, silver, and jade, Cao Xian was still hurrying a group of servants to serve a late-night snack. Amidst his shouts of “move faster,” maids filed in carrying trays, placing the exquisite dishes on the table.
Golden Thread Jujube and Longan Broth, Braised Yellow Sand Veal Liver, Eight-Treasure Rice, Gingered Plum Cakes… A dazzling array of dishes quickly crowded the spacious dining table.
The moment Pei Lianyi stepped across the threshold, he saw this spread of blood-nourishing, body-strengthening foods.
“What is this for?” After parting with Huo Jingzhao, he had wandered the courtyard for a while, only daring to return once the feverish heat in his body had subsided somewhat. Now, seeing these colorful dishes, he felt the heat return.
Remembering Huo Jingzhao’s direct gaze before he left, he casually undid two of the buttons on the front of his robe.
Cao Xian immediately set out bowls and chopsticks, grinning. “The Family Head has worked hard at the Ancestral Hall. Quickly, replenish your strength.”
Pei Lianyi was startled. He was about to say he hadn’t cut his wrist to offer blood today, but remembering Huo Jingzhao’s words, “eat properly,” he sat down anyway.
A hundred years ago, after the struggle between the Earth Tribe and the Shaman Tribe ended, the Pei clan began its long lineage of reproduction under the final Shamanic Poison curse.
Men of the Pei clan, I curse you to enjoy endless wealth and glory for generations, yet suffer the excruciating pain of sins tearing through your bellies—!
Although this curse was utterly vicious, it was also accompanied by rebirth and prosperity, easily stirring the greed and desire in people’s hearts.
Pei Lianyi, listen to your parents. As long as you bear one son, you won’t have to suffer any more pain ever again!
Family Head, the future of the Pei family rests entirely on this child…!
Ahhh… ugh! It hurts, no… ah—!
On a pitch-black, chaotic, cold night, a slender figure lay supine on an offering table, screaming shrilly. His hands gripped the curtain beside him tightly, his entire body practically suspended from the tabletop. Beneath his thin, reddened skin, youthful blood vessels pulsed like ripples on a lake’s surface. His swollen, rounded belly churned violently. The “fruit” bearing sin and continuation was finally born in silence.
To appease that Shamanic Poison and ensure the family’s enduring prosperity, the Pei ancestors specifically enshrined his spirit tablet in the Ancestral Hall and mandated that each Family Head must regularly offer blood to nourish the spirit.
The wound from cutting the wrist wasn’t large, but over time, it inevitably led to blood deficiency. Thus, every Family Head supplemented their diet with foods like animal organs.
Pei Lianyi disliked these slightly gamy dishes and usually ate very little of them.
But today, he ate quite a lot without a word of complaint.
Cao Xian found it remarkable and smiled again. “The Family Head’s complexion looks truly excellent, even better than the flowers you cultivate.”
Pei Lianyi’s hand paused mid-pick. His breath grew slightly unsteady. “Is that so? It has been several days since I last saw the flowers.”
Cao Xian sighed with emotion. “It seems Young Master Huo truly is a panacea, bringing great joy to both the Master and the Little Young Master.”
Pei Lianyi gripped his chopsticks tightly. The little beast lurking in his heart charged wildly, his gaze becoming unfocused. “Mm, Jingzhao is very good.”
After eating a piece of sweet-and-sour plum cake, he gave another flat order: “I’m done eating. Have hot water sent in.”
“Yes!”
He directed the servants to swiftly clear the dining table and set up the steaming bathtub, then dismissed them all outside the courtyard. Cao Xian was just about to leave when Pei Lianyi called him back, instructing him to prepare a set of brighter-colored clothes for the next day.
Cao Xian was quite surprised, puzzled as to why the Family Head had suddenly changed his preferences.
Perhaps it’s just a case of happy events lifting the spirits! He thought to himself, then walked briskly away from the Main Courtyard.
After the door closed, Pei Lianyi slowly removed his outer garment. Looking at the swirling hot steam, an incomparably handsome face appeared before his eyes again.
Master Pei, wear beautiful clothes for me to see every day, alright?
Pei Lianyi raised his leg and stepped into the bathtub, his raven-black hair trailing across the water. Tilting his head back to look at the roof beam, his face was flushed red.
“Alright…”
Before breakfast the next morning, Pei Lianyi changed into an eye-catching, water-red, lake-silk robe with a cinched waist.
His black hair was pinned up with a white jade hairpin. The fine fabric wrapped around his narrow waist, a neat row of gourd-shaped buttons lining his lower abdomen, making his already taut lines even more alluring, brimming with the strength of a mature man.
Stepping out of his room, he felt a bit uneasy. For the first time, he asked someone’s opinion on his attire. Cao Xian just squinted and smiled. “The Family Head is peerless in bearing. Everything looks good on you.”
“…” Imagining Huo Jingzhao’s infatuated gaze, Pei Lianyi blushed and quickened his pace.
“None of these look good! Take them away! Find more for this Young Master! Find them—!”
“Yes… yes, Little Young Master.”
As he neared the main hall, Pei Lianyi suddenly heard Pei Ziying’s sharp cries from ahead.
“What’s going on?” Walking in and seeing expensive fabrics strewn across the floor, Pei Lianyi frowned and asked.
A nearby Maid quickly explained: Since early morning, the Little Young Master had declared he wanted to choose material for his wedding clothes. The maids immediately brought out early-spring silks and gossamer fabrics for him to choose. But after a long search, nearly exhausting the manor’s entire fabric collection, the Little Young Master still hadn’t found anything satisfactory.
Wedding clothes… Hearing the maid’s explanation and looking at the brilliantly shimmering red silks and brocades at his feet, Pei Lianyi’s expression became somewhat dazed.
“Father!” Just then, Pei Ziying rushed towards him. Marveling at his father’s unique charm today, he exclaimed, “Father, you’re dressed so alluringly! Are you going on a date? When did Father find someone to have a rendezvous with? How come I didn’t know…”
Faced with his son’s rapid-fire questions, Pei Lianyi was so embarrassed he had nowhere to hide. He scolded lightly, “Nonsense. I just dressed casually.”
But it looks very seductive… Pei Ziying pouted in confusion.
“No need for such a temper. Isn’t this one quite good?” As father and son were talking, a slender hand picked up a piece of soft sheer fabric from the floor and carefully brushed it off.
“Jingzhao!” Seeing the man appear, Pei Ziying’s eyes lit up.
Huo Jingzhao walked over and held the material against him to measure. “The Little Young Master’s skin is fair, but his figure is too slender. With such a graceful physique, only soft fabrics can properly showcase the curves of his waist, hips, and legs.”
He spoke perfectly seriously, but the person being praised was utterly embarrassed.
“Jingzhao… Father is still here!” Pei Ziying gently thumped him.
“Ah, Master Pei.” Huo Jingzhao seemed to notice the other’s presence only then. He folded the fabric neatly and saluted Pei Lianyi. “I apologize for my discourtesy.”
Pei Lianyi’s lips moved, and his brows curved in self-deprecation.
Last night, the person who had asked him to wear nice clothes didn’t even glance at him today.
The bright clothes on his body, compared to the unformed piece of fabric in Huo Jingzhao’s hand, instantly seemed dull and lifeless.
“Hehe, Father won’t blame you.” Pei Ziying clung to his fiancé’s arm, acting coquettishly. “Isn’t that right, Father?”
