Chapter 14: Permission Granted. Relieve Yourself Right Here. Part 3

Auntie Chen knew his character all too well. She gave him a teasing look before her brow furrowed. “The Pei family has been a family of generals for generations. They breed wolf cubs. Be careful you don’t spend all your time hunting birds only to have your eyes pecked out by a hawk.”

Seeing she had seen through him, Gu Huaiyu gave a faint smile. “I understand. I will be careful.”

There were no outsiders in Chongfu Temple. If the old officials of the court were to see this scene, their eyes would pop out of their heads.

After all, this “Auntie Chen” was a living legend of the Great Chen Dynasty. She was the mother of Emperor Rui and the grandmother of Yuan Zhuo.

The Grand Empress Dowager Chen’s husband was an Emperor, her eldest son was an Emperor, her younger son was an Emperor, and even her grandson was fated to be an Emperor. If one were to speak of good fortune, even the Bodhisattva in the temple might have to yield.

Yet here was the most noble woman in history, currently losing all sense of decorum as she sneaked honey crisps from a food box.

Ever since Emperor Rui took the throne, the Grand Empress Dowager had officially retired to a private villa, but in reality, she had been living in seclusion at Chongfu Temple.

The Grand Empress Dowager treated Gu Huaiyu with great affection. When he had first followed Emperor Rui into the capital, he was an arrogant, wild youth who didn’t know the heights of heaven. Armed with his talent, he thought he could grasp the world in his hands.

Instead of catching the fox, he had only gotten himself burned. It was the Grand Empress Dowager who had taught him how to hide his edge and sharpen his restraint.

Though they weren’t blood relatives, their bond was stronger than most grandmothers and grandsons. She was warmer to him than she was to her own flesh and blood, Yuan Zhuo.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the weather turned abruptly. Heavy clouds blotted out the last of the sunset.

Gu Huaiyu’s mountain sedan had just reached the foot of the mountain when rain the size of beans began to drum against the roof.

The Iron Eagle Guards panicked, getting soaked to the bone as they scrambled about in the rain.

“My Lord! The rain is too heavy—”

“Don’t get out, My Lord! I’ll find an umbrella!”

Liu Erlang rushed off in a frenzy. The Iron Eagle Guards were strong men; a little rain wouldn’t hurt them. But Gu Huaiyu’s constitution was frail. If he caught a chill, he wouldn’t be able to leave his bed for half a month.

Sitting inside the sedan, Gu Huaiyu pulled back a corner of the curtain. The carriage was just a short distance away down the slope.

He frowned. West Mountain was sparsely populated, and the nearest house was miles away. By the time Liu Erlang found an umbrella, his sedan would be a sieve.

Pei Jingyi’s black riding gear was already soaked. In the army, rain was a daily occurrence, and he didn’t mind it at all. He squinted through the curtain at that patch of skin that was far too white—delicate and luminous, like it was sculpted from snow.

A “Snowball” indeed.

A pity it was a black-hearted snowball.

The rain hammered against the roof, and the air was filled with panicked shouting and chaos. It was noisy and irritating.

Pei Jingyi was naturally rebellious and unrestrained, but he had one stubborn trait—even if he was forced to submit, he would do his duty.

Since he had acknowledged a master, he would protect them through fire and water. Even if he wanted to tear the man to pieces in his heart, he would not fail in what needed to be done at this moment. This was the sense of responsibility bred into his bones from his time in the military.

Gu Huaiyu listened to the noisy shouting outside until a sharp, clear voice cut through the rain. “Move.”

Pei Jingyi strode to the sedan. Without a word, he stripped off his outer robe and wrung it dry, revealing the thin inner shirt clinging to his muscles. He bent down and pulled back the sedan curtain. “Please exit the sedan, Chancellor.”

One of the Iron Eagle Guards shouted, “No! The Chancellor will get wet—”

“He won’t.”

Pei Jingyi didn’t look back. He held his outer robe high with both hands, creating a small, dry sanctuary in the rain. He tilted his chin up. “Please, Chancellor.”

Gu Huaiyu glanced at him before stepping out. Pei Jingyi immediately moved closer. His soaked inner shirt pressed against Gu’s luxurious silk robes as the outer robe shielded them from the downpour.

“Is General Pei like a walnut?” Gu Huaiyu raised a mocking eyebrow, rainwater clinging to his eyelashes like tiny crystals. “Does one have to crack you open to get results?”

Pei Jingyi’s chest was nearly pressed against Gu Huaiyu’s back, the heat of his body radiating through the layers of silk.

“The Chancellor has a precious body.” He leaned down, his lips nearly brushing Gu Huaiyu’s earlobe. “If you were to fall ill…”

Gu Huaiyu wasn’t used to being so close to someone and instinctively tried to pull away. Suddenly, a rock-hard arm wrapped around his waist from behind, hoisting him up to avoid a muddy puddle.

“Who would I have to ask for permission the next time I need to relieve myself?”