A slightly tipsy Pei Lianyi stood numbly for a moment, then slowly released his hand. Leaning against the wall, he laughed softly. “Don’t say things that will make me regret them once I sober up.”
Huo Jingzhao didn’t let go. Using his fingertips to trace the fabric of Pei Lianyi’s clothes, he asked in a low voice, “Is Master Pei drunk?”
Too presumptuous. It must be that he was too close. Every word he spoke made Pei Lianyi’s heart tingle with numbness. “A little. So don’t do anything I’d regret.”
Huo Jingzhao let out an “Ah” of acknowledgment, then suddenly said seriously, “Where has Master Pei’s mind wandered? I wouldn’t take advantage of someone’s vulnerability.”
Hearing this, the back of Pei Lianyi’s neck flushed even redder, a hint of red-rimmed moisture appearing at the corners of his eyes.
Yes, the person before him was the famously gentle Young Master Huo of Rongchu City. He was always well-behaved, gentle, and courteous. If he didn’t consent, the other would never overstep any bounds. When he first arranged Ziying’s marriage, he had been reassured by this. Yet now, the same thing filled him with such despair.
“Treat Ziying well. Don’t let there be any more Mr. Shi this or Mr. Zhao that.” Pei Lianyi closed his eyes briefly. His tone was flat, carrying a hint of warning and also some bitterness.
“Only with Ziying, I can still endure.”
Hearing the word “endure,” a somber smile flickered at the corner of Huo Jingzhao’s mouth. On the surface, he hastily explained, “Shi Wuya is just someone I exchanged a few glances with at the academy. Don’t misunderstand, Master Pei. You know what’s in my heart.”
Pei Lianyi felt his face burn at these words. He lowered his head, wanting to deceive himself, to tell himself that he had spoken those words only for Ziying’s happiness. But the jealousy in his heart, that envy that was driving him to death, had already made the answer within him all but cry out loud.
He stared at the softly luminous pearl on his chest and remained silent.
“Do you like it?” Following his gaze, Huo Jingzhao’s throat felt somewhat dry.
Pei Lianyi raised his eyes and glared at him. “Where did you get the money?”
Huo Jingzhao’s hand was still at his waist. Being glared at like that, he felt half his soul fly away, a heat surging in his nose and throat.
“Has Master Pei forgotten? I am the Overlord of the Sea from the Dragon Boat Festival. I possess a reward of ten thousand taels of gold and a year’s worth of maritime pricing rights.”
Once tonight passed, the entire city of Rongchu would spread the tale of how this pauper, to curry favor with his Father-in-law, to show off, had recklessly squandered his Dragon Boat Festival reward at the auction gala. He’d be labeled a thorough wastrel, a fool who couldn’t manage his assets.
Perhaps they would even curse him for starting to flatter and curry favor the moment he latched onto the sturdy leg of Pei Manor.
Thinking of this, a secret thrill rose in Huo Jingzhao’s heart. In his eyes, all these things, including the mountains of gold and silver in the Nine Blossoms Sect, were mere illusions. As long as he moved his hand, clenched his fist, they would all turn to ash.
It was rare to catch a hint of smugness on the man’s face. Pei Lianyi was suddenly overcome with dizzying fascination. His breath hitched, and he spoke again in the tone of one disciplining a junior:
“Of course, I know. But that money was earned risking your life. Besides, how could that money be enough?”
Huo Jingzhao curved his lips into a smile, his bright laugh carrying a hint of mystery. “Master Pei need not worry. I have my own ways.”
Facing his dashing, captivatingly handsome face, Pei Lianyi softened his tone. “You need to slowly learn how to manage business. Doing business isn’t just about seizing opportunities; it’s also about opening up new revenue streams and cutting expenses. How can you just charge in guns blazing at every turn?”
Huo Jingzhao opened his mouth, feigning surprise. “I never imagined I’d hear the word ‘frugal’ from Master Pei’s mouth.”
As he spoke, he reached out to touch Pei Lianyi’s eight-pearl buttons. “Who changes their outfit every single day?”
This side of him was a bit mischievous, that tiny, barely concealed wicked streak making Pei Lianyi’s scalp tingle. He clenched his jaw to halt the weakness in his waist.
“For whom do I change my clothes?” He let out a cold humph and retorted.
Huo Jingzhao’s shoulders trembled slightly, a muffled laugh escaping him.
“For me. For me.” He leaned close to Pei Lianyi’s ear and whispered.
Pei Lianyi took the opportunity to place both hands on his broad shoulders, leaning against his chest, neither too close nor too far.
“It’s getting late. We should head back now.” Having thus absorbed the man’s burning presence for a while, Pei Lianyi, feeling much better, said hoarsely.
Huo Jingzhao didn’t linger either. Responding with a “Alright,” he withdrew with the utmost propriety.
Pei Lianyi had just felt a pang of disappointment when the man asked, “In the future, can I hold Master Pei just a little bit like this from time to time?”
He didn’t answer Huo Jingzhao. He walked on, staring straight ahead for a while, before nodding with his back to the man.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.” Huo Jingzhao slowly followed behind him.
Returning to Pei Manor, Pei Lianyi’s head still throbbed slightly from the alcohol. Just then, Cao Xian hurried over. A single sentence from him made Pei Lianyi’s expression change drastically, sobering him instantly.
“Family Head! Young Master Huo… something’s happened to the Little Young Master!” The old Steward’s lips were hesitant, but his face was full of the suspicion and anxiety of “Why did you two only just come back now?”
“What happened? Where is he?”
“He’s in, in the room…!”
Pei Lianyi couldn’t care less. He immediately left everyone behind and rushed towards the courtyard where Pei Ziying was.
Cao Xian hurried to catch up, explaining that the Little Young Master had injured his leg climbing a tree. A doctor had already been summoned, but the situation was not good.
Pei Lianyi’s heart immediately seized. He had given birth to Pei Ziying in the depths of winter. At the time, he was still young. Due to the intense pain and weakness of childbirth, he had been unconscious for several hours. When he woke up, he found that the baby, who had been wailing at first, was now breathing out but barely taking any air in.
It’s better if he dies. At least he wouldn’t have to suffer the way I do! The young Pei Lianyi couldn’t help but think venomously.
The child on the offering table seemed to sense his birth father’s pain and misery. He reached out a hand towards him, babbling, begging to be held.
Pei Lianyi tentatively grasped his tiny hand and instantly broke down in tears.
Because he was born frail, Pei Lianyi was extremely meticulous with Pei Ziying. Initially, he wouldn’t even let him touch cold water. Later, the doctor who came for regular check-ups said that although the Little Young Master had suffered from the cold, the chill had not entered his bones. As long as he was properly nursed and increased his activity, there would be a turnaround.
Master Pei, it’s a good thing if the Little Young Master is a little naughty.
Having listened to the doctor’s words, Pei Lianyi loosened his grip and let his son climb up and down as he pleased. Pei Ziying was naturally lively, and under his father’s indulgence, he became even more playful.
Although he hadn’t been short on mischief over the years, this was the first time he had truly gotten into an accident. How could Pei Lianyi not be heartbroken?
He was burning with anxiety, but when Cao Xian said, “The Little Young Master very much wishes to see Young Master Huo,” he abruptly stopped.
Gripping the door frame for support, the pearl on his chest now felt unbearably scorching.
“Jingzhao…” Pei Lianyi dug his fingers into his palm, swallowing the turbid air in his chest over and over before managing to say, “You go in first.”
Huo Jingzhao said nothing. He lifted the hem of his robe and stepped over the threshold.
The window with its hibiscus-patterned lattice was half-open, dispersing the smell of medicine in the room. On the bed, a figure dressed in snow-white sleepwear had one leg hoisted in mid-air. He hung his head; the little face that usually glowed with a rosy hue was now as pale as paper, and deep teeth marks were imprinted on his lips.
“Little Young Master, Young Master Huo is here.” Seeing his listlessness, Cao Xian informed him.
“Jing… Jingzhao?” Pei Ziying quickly sat up.
“How did this happen?” Glancing at his right leg, swollen to a purple hue, Huo Jingzhao frowned.
“I… I…” Pei Ziying hemmed and hawed, unwilling to speak.
“The Little Young Master was trying to pick peach blossoms to make a sachet for Young Master Huo, that’s how he…”
“Steward Cao, don’t say it! Boo-hoo, this is so embarrassing!”
Cao Xian had just begun to explain when Pei Ziying cut him off, blushing and teary-eyed.
Huo Jingzhao looked back and indeed saw a basket of peach blossoms on the table.
The weather had cleared up these past few days, and the peach blossom groves in Rongchu City were in full bloom. At this time each year, the city’s young men and women would run off to pick peach blossoms, pray for blessings, and then make them into sachets as gifts for their beloved, to ward off evil and pray for their safety.
Pei Ziying didn’t dare look at the man and said bashfully, “They said you can’t let the petals fall to the ground while picking, or the charm won’t work! I lost my footing and just…”
As he spoke, he pinched the edge of the blanket. “Jingzhao, sit down. You staring at me like that scares me.”
For a brief moment, Huo Jingzhao found it hard to refuse this face, so he sat down.
“What did the doctor say?” he asked in a low voice.
“The doctor said the Little Young Master has injured his bones and sinews this time. Even if the swelling goes down, it… might result in a permanent disability.” Cao Xian gritted his teeth and finally voiced the words he hadn’t dared to utter earlier.
“What—?!” Pei Ziying burst into tears on the spot. “No, Jingzhao, I… I don’t want to become disabled! No…”
Outside the door, Pei Lianyi’s heart simultaneously jolted in shock. He was about to rush in when he heard Cao Xian continue:
“The doctor said there is medicine that can treat the Little Young Master’s bone injury, but this ingredient requires the living blood of a Snow Deer as a catalyst…”
Snow Deer were entirely white, with long, narrow heads resembling a horse’s. Their red antlers could be used as medicine, and their blood could clear the meridians. Just a single mouthful of their flesh could sell for thousands of taels of gold. They were an extremely rare and precious bird in Rong Kingdom.
