Chapter 34: Circumstances Beyond Control Part 1

Seeing his beloved son clutching Shi Wuya’s hand and refusing to let go, Pei Lianyi’s countenance froze. Soon, he lifted his chin, radiating an unshakeable majesty: “Pei Ziying, you’re becoming more and more insolent.”

“Father…” Even in his burning anxiety, facing his father’s soul-stirring eyes, Pei Ziying still felt a flicker of fear.

But after only a moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth and said loudly: “No matter what Father says, I’m taking Mister Wuya to see Jingzhao!”

Pei Lianyi averted his gaze indifferently. He looked out at the scenery of emerald lotuses stretching to the sky on the pond and said deeply: “How has your father taught you? Have you even forgotten basic etiquette and the respect for hierarchy?”

The shimmering water reflected his figure. He wore a light white silk brocade robe with a Baoxiang pattern. The eight-petaled flowers and six-point stamens bloomed orderly around his waist. His face, with its elegant features and fine bone structure, was filled with mature authority.

Beside Pei Ziying stood Shi Wuya, clad in a black jade robe. Shadows surged on his face. The corners of his bright, sharp eyes looked as if splashed with ink, exuding threads of dampness and eerie, bewitching charm.

One in white, one in black. Their gazes didn’t cross, yet inexplicably, there was a tense atmosphere of gathering storm clouds and opposing armies.

Rules? Hierarchy? Shi Wuya almost laughed out loud.

Who could have imagined it? The “Pearl of Rongchu,” seemingly so noble and righteous, who always spoke of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor, was actually entangled in an ambiguous, on-and-off relationship with the live-in son-in-law who was about to marry in. If Huo Jingzhao were awake right now, he’d probably be shamelessly rubbing up against him already. And here he was, acting so pure.

Recalling the auction banquet, when this man, under the pretense of putting on the pearl, had almost been cheek-to-cheek with Huo Jingzhao, Shi Wuya sneered:

“Family Head Pei’s rules are truly like a summer rainstorm: sometimes present, sometimes absent—coming fast and leaving just as quickly.”

Hearing the sarcasm in his words, the faces of everyone present stiffened somewhat.

Pei Lianyi didn’t say much, only instructing the Old Steward behind him: “Cao Xian, take action.”

Cao Xian immediately stepped forward to block Pei Ziying’s path: “Please hold your steps, Little Young Master. And this gentleman here, please return as well.”

Pei Ziying said angrily: “Steward Cao, why are you also on Father’s side? Jingzhao, he…!”

“Little Young Master.” Cao Xian smiled, but his eyes narrowed as he interrupted him: “When the Master does things, he has his own considerations. We servants naturally must follow the Master’s instructions.”

He then raised his voice towards the courtyard: “Guards—!”

As soon as the Head Steward’s voice fell, they saw Li Qi leading a squad of guards rushing towards the corridor, blocking the path to the rear courtyard tightly.

“Father—!” Looking at his father’s tall, slender back, Pei Ziying practically ground his teeth to dust.

“Don’t, don’t, don’t… stop, stop, stop!” Seeing the situation about to escalate into a fight, Shi Chengji hurriedly stepped forward to mediate: “Little Young Master, don’t be impatient! Lianyi, don’t get angry either. Don’t let rage harm your health. This matter today is all my fault, all my fault! I brought someone over impulsively without first asking for your opinion carefully, breaking the rules of the Pei Manor.”

He then turned to Shi Wuya: “Mister Wuya, it seems we’ve come at an inconvenient time today. Perhaps another day…”

“Master! Madam Huo is waiting for you where Young Master Huo is! She says she must see you!”

Before Shi Chengji could finish, a maid ran over from the rear courtyard, reporting to Pei Lianyi.

“Jingzhao…! Has something happened to Jingzhao again?!” Pei Ziying instantly panicked.

Beside him, Shi Wuya’s expression changed drastically. His hand tightened furtively within his sleeve.

After waving the maid away, Pei Lianyi coldly commanded:

“Li Qi, guard this place. Without my permission, no one is allowed to take half a step forward.”

“Yes, Master!” Li Qi quickly clasped his fists.

In all their years as servants in the Pei Manor, this was the first time they had seen the Master so repeatedly enraged. They naturally didn’t dare be careless.

“Cao Xian, come with me.” Pei Lianyi withdrew his gaze, flicked his sleeve, and headed for the rear courtyard.

“Yes.” Cao Xian shook his head at Pei Ziying and immediately followed.

Arriving at the spacious courtyard, Pei Lianyi involuntarily quickened his steps. But as he approached the bedchamber, his hands once again began to tremble uncontrollably.

The room held a faintly bitter smell of medicine. The bed was laid with very soft bedding, and lying there was the young man with the long limbs and lean, muscular build.

Huo Jingzhao’s sleeping posture was sprawling and unrestrained, hardly elegant. But his handsomeness softened this roughness. When asleep, a slight furrow lined his straight, handsome brow, like a cheetah ready to awaken at any moment. The rise and fall of his chest carried a light scent of soapberry, full of the virile charisma unique to his age.

Just seeing the beddings sinking under his weight made Pei Lianyi feel his cheeks flush hot.

He knew he should maintain a respectful distance. But hearing the maid say, “Madam Huo insists on going to the Kitchen herself to fetch medicine for the Young Master. We servants couldn’t stop her,” a thought stirred in his heart. He immediately dismissed the others and walked over.

To facilitate changing his dressings, Huo Jingzhao wore only a sleeping robe.

Pei Lianyi sat down on the bedside. He had originally only planned to lift the thin fabric to check the man’s injuries. But thinking about where he was, he suddenly froze.

This was Ziying’s bed. He was, on his son’s bed, touching his son’s fiancé.

This realization made Pei Lianyi bite his lower lip tightly, his heart thundering like a drum. A tremendous excitement flowed through him.

“Didn’t you say that when no one else was around, you really wanted to hug me?” He pulled Huo Jingzhao’s hand to his own waist and whispered: “From now on, I’ll let you do as you wish. As long as you wake up.”

“…” The unconscious man breathed evenly, showing no reaction.

Pei Lianyi’s hands moved downwards, checking Huo Jingzhao’s solid thighs, calves, and ankles.

Thinking how Ziying had also intimately touched these areas, a surge of sourness welled up inside him, his expression shifting.

“Master Pei, you’ve come.”

Only when Madam Huo’s voice came from behind him did Pei Lianyi startle awake and jerk his hand back.

“Why did Madam Huo personally come to get the medicine, instead of just ordering the servants?” He said hoarsely.

Madam Huo said uneasily: “Master Pei has already been so gracious to allow me to stay in the manor to care for Jingzhao. I am deeply grateful. How dare I trouble…”

Not knowing if his earlier actions had been seen, Pei Lianyi lowered his eyes in a fluster, about to stand up. But his gaze was caught by an old scar on Huo Jingzhao’s ankle.

“How did he get this injury?” He asked.

Madam Huo stepped closer. Looking at the deep red, brand-like scar on her son’s foot, she explained: “This is from when Jingzhao was little, protecting his younger brother and sister. He was burned by a hot oil pot. If not for him blocking it, the two children would have been in big trouble.”

“So that’s how it was.” Pei Lianyi mused thoughtfully and said gently: “It seems Jingzhao is a very good big brother.”

“Yes.” Madam Huo sighed and said with a smile: “Although he appears very strict with his younger siblings on the surface, he always kept them in his heart. To let them live a little better, he went to the Wharf to find work at just eight years old.”

“It’s also the fault of me and his father, always saying ‘the eldest brother is like a father,’ placing too many burdens on him. After his younger brother and sister were gone… Jingzhao didn’t speak a single word for over half a year…”

Listening to her words, Pei Lianyi remembered that late night not long ago—the night his stomach ached unbearably after eating the crab feast.

When Huo Jingzhao pulled him by the hand to hop across the grid lines on the main street, he had been so curious, so surprised, so embarrassed… yet he had tasted an openness and joy he had never experienced before.

When mentioning family, the smile on Huo Jingzhao’s face under the moonlight had become complex and hazy.

That was the first time he learned about the man’s past. So, he endured the pain and walked with him for a very long time.

Only today did he finally understand: that feeling was called heartache and tender affection.

Just then, Madam Huo suddenly fell to her knees with a thud and cried out in a trembling voice: “Master Pei—! I beg Master Pei to show mercy! Just let Mister Wuya treat Jingzhao’s injuries!”

Her anguished wails struck Pei Lianyi’s heart fiercely, a choked sensation blocking his throat.

“Madam Huo, what are you doing?! Please get up quickly…” Hearing the commotion, Cao Xian outside the door hurriedly ran in.

Madam Huo ignored him, only crying out her plea: “Master Pei, Jingzhao’s younger brother and sister are no longer in this world! Now, my husband and I have only this one son left! If anything happens to Jingzhao, how will we live on…?! I beg Master Pei! I beg Master Pei to show mercy!”

“I’ll kowtow to you, I’ll kowtow to you—!”

She kowtowed with great force. Soon, large patches of bruising appeared on her smooth forehead.

“No… Madam Huo…” Watching her knock her head with loud thuds, the color drained completely from Pei Lianyi’s face: “No… How could I accept such a grand gesture from you?”

“I beg you! Master Pei, please let Jingzhao go!” Madam Huo was hoarse, her wan face full of weariness: “If… if I had known that entering the Pei Manor would lead to this for Jingzhao, back then… his father and I would rather have taken him away from Rongchu City! Better that than… than him lying here motionless, becoming a cripple!”

Pei Lianyi was filled with shame and remorse, utterly unable to meet her eyes.

He was the one who had forcibly arranged the marriage for their son, insisting Huo Jingzhao marry in.

It was he who had seduced Ziying’s husband, splitting apart the feelings of the two young people, turning Huo Jingzhao into a faithless man, unfaithful to his future wife before even the wedding.

Dazedly, he looked at the person on the bed, his lips pale as paper.

Huo Jingzhao, did you hear that? Even your mother is begging me like this, blaming me.