Chapter Fifty-Three

At home Pei Jin reflected about Wang Fu Mus note.

Yan Shi Ning felt Pei Jin toss and turn on the bed.

Pei Jin, are you a cong you bing? Yan Shi Ning asked.

Yan Shi Ning kicked Pei Jin who was crawling under her inner robe.

Shi Ning, your temper is worse by the day, Pei Jin teased.

Yan Shi Ning didnt want to admit Pei Jin was right about her temper.

What are you going to do if you cant tolerate my temper? Yan Shi Ning asked.

Of course I can tolerate your temper, Pei Jin said.

Pei Jin knew if he teased Yan Shi Ning too much then she would kick him outside their chamber.

Yan Shi Ning knew Pei Jin was troubled about something otherwise he wouldnt have trouble sleeping. Pei Jin, whats wrong? Did something happen in the palace?

Shi Ning, what do you think about tenth brother? Pei Jin asked.

Hes soft, calm and beautiful, Yan Shi Ning said. At a glance he looks like someone harmless.

What if my harmless tenth brother wants to harm me? Pei Jin asked.

What? Yan Shi Ning asked.

Pei Jin explained to Yan Shi Ning about Wang Fu Mus note.

We didnt leave a trace at the harvest festival, Yan Shi Ning said. How did the crown prince know we were involved?

I dont know why he knows but he wouldnt want to warn imperial father unless he has evidence, Pei Jin said.

Yan Shi Ning thought perhaps it was her fault that the crown prince found evidence. She slowly recalled everything that happened at the Yan Manor and she suspected the crown prince was involved in Yan Shi Tings death.

Pei Jin, do you remember I told you Yan Shi Tings death was suspicious? Yan Shi Ning asked.

Pei Jin nodded his head. He remembered Yan Shi Ning wasnt certain if someone pushed Yan Shi Ting into the well or Yan Shi Ting accidently fell into the well.

Shi Ning are you saying that tenth brother killed Yan Shi Ting? Pei Jin asked.

That day Yan Shi Ting scared me and I left her in the gardens, Yan Shi Ning said. A while later her body was found in the well. I remember in the gardens theres a sculpture. Perhaps the crown prince was hiding behind it that day, overheard what I said to Yan Shi Ting and thats how he knows we were involved in the wedding incident.

Shi Ning if your speculations are true then why would tenth brother kill Yan Shi Ting? Pei Jin asked.

Yan Shi Ning couldnt believe someone who looked harmless like the crown prince would push Yan Shi Ting into the well. Pei Jin, perhaps my speculations are wrong and the crown prince didnt kill Yan Shi Ting.

Pei Jin knew Yan Shi Ning was frightened that a harmless Pei Lam was capable of heartlessly killing Yan Shi Ting. Shi Ning, I didnt want to go see tenth brother but now I need to go see him.

Yan Shi Ning heard the sadness in Pei Jins tone. After Bei Dou captured the crown prince, Bei Dou locked the crown prince in a secure place. But Pei Jin never visited the crown prince and she thought perhaps Pei Jin wanted to maintain the small brotherly bond between them.

In the past I was reluctant to let Bei Dou deal with the crown prince, Pei Jin said. But now I know I was naive. If imperial father found out the truth then three years of firewood collected would be burned within a shichen hour.

Yan Shi Ning was scared Pei Jins fear was true and the emperor would kill Pei Jin if the emperor found out the truth.

Pei Jin, why does the emperor hate you? Yan Shi Ning asked.

I thought about why for many years, Pei Jin said. I even suspected I wasnt imperial fathers blood son.

Pei Jin, you know thats not true, Yan Shi Ning said. If youre not the emperors blood son then you wouldnt be alive now.

Thats why at the right opportunity I need to ask my imperial father why he hates me, Pei Jin said.

Yan Shi Nings heart ached for Pei Jin because it was something that troubled his heart for years.

Pei Jin, theres something else, Yan Shi Ning said.

What? Pei Jin asked.

Why would Wang Fu Mu who is the closest person to the emperor pass a note to you? Yan Shi Ning asked suspiciously.

Pei Jin hesitated to answer.

Last time you promised you wouldnt hide anything else from me! Yan Shi Ning said.

Shi Ning you didnt ask me about this so I didnt lie to you, Pei Jin said. Shi Ning Ill tell you another secret I havent told anyone else before.

Yan Shi Ning silently listened to Pei Jin talk about Wang Fu Mu.

When Wang Fu Mu was a young eunuch he was bullied in the palace, Pei Jin said. Like when he was thirteen years old he knocked over a vase and was nearly beaten to death. He used the strength he had left to run and hide in a chamber. Inside the chamber was a young man who pulled out a pill and put it in Wang Fu Mus life. The young man climbed the window after he heard other people chasing after Wang Fu Mu. The pill Wang Fu Mu swallowed was a rare pill that protected a persons qi. It saved Wang Fu Mus life. At that time Wang Fu Mu didnt know who his mysterious young savor was. But it motivated Wang Fu Mu to survive long enough to repay his savor so he slowly built connections in the palace.

Pei Jin held Yan Shi Nings hand. Three years later Wang Fu Mu met his savor again. It was my imperial uncle, Prince Chen Nan who returned to the palace on horseback after conquering Southern Jiang. Wang Fu Mu didnt dare to say that he knew the heroic Prince Chen Nan. So imperial uncle didnt recognise Wang Fu Mu. Later their fates changed. Wang Fu Mu crawled into a high position and my imperial uncles status slowly diminished. Wang Fu Mus heart ached for his savor. Wang Fu Mu secretly followed imperial uncle to help imperial uncle at the right opportunity. But he failed to find out imperial father had put a sleeping pill into imperial uncles wine cup until after imperial uncle fell off a horse and died.

Yan Shi Ning felt Pei Jins sadness.

Wang Fu Mu secretly grieved for imperial uncles death while serving imperial father, Pei Jin said. Wang Fu Mu failed to repay imperial uncle for saving his life. But Wang Fu Mu remembered out of all the emperors sons, imperial uncle loved me the most. So Wang Fu Mu secretly protected me to repay imperial uncle. Imperial father regards Wang Fu Mu highly because imperial father believes Wang Fu Mu doesnt favor any of imperial fathers sons. Even I didnt know Wang Fu Mu was secretly protecting me for a long time.

How did you find out? Yan Shi Ning asked.

Shi Ning, do you remember the first day I arrived in Xuan Qing? Pei Jin asked.

Yan Shi Nings teeth itched while she remembered her pitiful six-year-old self who was bullied by Pei Jin.

During that period Consort Chen died, Pei Jin said. Assassins were sent to kill me but Wang Fu Mu warned me to be careful otherwise I wouldnt be alive now like during Consort Chens funeral, Wang Fu Mu warned me to be careful of my food and drinks. The empress sent a bowl of soup to me and I listened to Wang Fu Mus warning. I used a silver needle to test the bowl of soup, it was poisoned. Afterward I looked for Wang Fu Mu and he told me about how imperial uncle saved his life. Then he advised me to follow my teacher to Xuan Qing on the pretence that Im grieving for Consort Chens death

Is that why you came to Xuan Qing? Yan Shi Ning asked.

Yes, Pei Jin said.

Imperial uncle said he was powerless to help you but he helped you a lot, Yan Shi Ning said.

Thats right, Pei Jin said. Without imperial uncle then I would have died long ago. I wouldnt have met you and we wouldnt have conceived a child together Shi Ning, we cant hide your pregnancy for much longer.

Why? Yan Shi Ning asked.

Imperial father wants me to follow seventh brothers example, Pei Jin said. Imperial father asked me if he could choose a second wife and concubines for me.

Yan Shi Ning hid the sadness in her heart and smiled. Thats a good suggestion. I think our home is a little cold. If there are more people then itll become lively.

Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning silently looked at each others eyes while smiling.

Wife, how can you lie this well? Pei Jin asked.

Yan Shi Ning looked innocently at Pei Jin. What I said earlier was sincere.

Pei Jins hands moved closer to Yan Shi Nings body. Truly?

Yes, Yan Shi Ning said.

Shi Ning, why arent you scared of being tickled anymore? Pei Jin asked.

Im used to you, Yan Shi Ning said.

Pei Jin frowned, he couldnt tickle Yan Shi Ning to force her to tell the truth.

When will we need to tell others Im pregnant? Yan Shi Ning asked.

Well wait a little longer to protect our child, Pei Jin said.

Ill be more cautious after others know Im pregnant, Yan Shi Ning promised.

Pei Jin hugged Yan Shi Ning. Shi Ning, dont worry. Im here to protect you. When Im not here Ill ask my guards to secretly protect you.

The night sky darkened but Yan Shi Ning couldnt sleep.

Pei Jin remembered Xiao Zais confession and his eyes brightened.

Wife, tonight we cant sleep, Pei Jin said. Why dont we do it together?

No, Yan Shi Ning said.

Yes, Pei Jin said.

Pei Jin took off Yan Shi Nings inner robe and his head crawled under her undergarments.

Yan Shi Ning felt Pei Jins warm mouth suckled her breasts and her body turned limp.

Pei Jin nibbled Yan Shi Nings erect nipples.

It hurts Yan Shi Ning said.

Shi Ning, does your chest wound hurt? Pei Jin asked.

Yan Shi Ning blushed and shook her head. You bit too hard.

Shi Ning later Ill let you bite me, Pei Jin said.

***

End of Chapter Fifty-Three