Chapter 27: Coveting Another Man’s Wife

Pei Zhouwu took the Glowworm Wooden Hairpin into his hand, gripping it tightly in his palm.

“I never expected it would be you who came. If it’s you…”

Pei Zhouwu paused, a cryptic smile appearing on his pale face.

“If it’s me, then what?”

Pei Zhouwu turned his gaze toward the doorway and added lightly, “How is the investigation going?”

Hearing his question, Shen Xiunian twitched his eyelids, thinking to himself how clever Pei Zhouwu was—able to grasp the crux of the matter so quickly just from knowing who had come.

Shen Xiunian produced the knockout incense in his hand and spoke calmly.

“This shouldn’t belong to Marquis Pei, should it?”

Pei Zhouwu glanced sideways but did not answer.

The answer was obvious—he had been imprisoned here all along, so where could he have obtained such a thing?

“I suspect the guards outside don’t know about the knockout incense either,” Shen Xiunian already had his suspicions and didn’t hold back. “Otherwise, they would have already come in to dispose of it, not allowing it to remain in the room to be discovered.”

“Most likely…”

As he spoke, Shen Xiunian carefully observed the changes in Pei Zhouwu’s expression.

“Most likely, the person who used this knockout incense is already dead, which is why they didn’t have time to clean up the evidence.”

From this perspective, it seemed quite clear.

The one who used the knockout incense was the guard captain whom Pei Zhouwu had killed in self-defense the previous night. The only question was whether it was his own idea or if someone had instructed him.

Though it seemed straightforward, there were still puzzling aspects everywhere.

As for Pei Zhouwu, his expression remained cold and indifferent, unchanged no matter what Shen Xiunian said.

Only the wooden hairpin in his palm was gripped tighter and tighter.

These two men, each with their own thoughts, made for an intriguing scene.

One suspected the other of having an affair with his wife.

The other was consumed with thoughts of the other’s wife.

If the one who had kept them both in the dark knew of this situation, who knows how amused she would be.

Pei Zhouwu had no interest in listening to Shen Xiunian’s words, nor did he care much about the outcome of the day. All he knew was that the ones who had come to Xiangshan today were not the executioners from the death prison, and this was undoubtedly due to Su Yueying’s intervention.

When she left, she had said she would help him.

How bold she was.

If anything went slightly wrong, losing her head would be the least of her worries.

How could she… how could she do so much for him!

Su Yueying.

How foolish…

She was trapped in the Qi Prince’s Mansion, barely able to protect herself.

Shen Xiunian’s subordinate entered from outside and reported to him, “General, we have interrogated all the guarding soldiers. The guard captain who died last night had just taken up his post. He clashed with Marquis Pei during the day yesterday and, after being defeated, swore revenge in anger. At night, while the others were asleep, he came alone to confront Marquis Pei. The commotion from the fight alerted the other soldiers.”

“I understand.”

Shen Xiunian thought to himself that it was just as he had guessed.

After the subordinate withdrew, Shen Xiunian spoke to Pei Zhouwu again, “I will report everything that happened here truthfully to His Majesty.”

After a moment, Pei Zhouwu exhaled heavily and said, “Then I must trouble you, General.”

He seemed not particularly hopeful of truly clearing his name of the false accusation of treason.

In his heart, he only worried about his Su Yueying, hoping she was safe and that nothing would happen to her.

Shen Xiunian opened his mouth to say something more, but ultimately closed it slowly again. When his gaze fell on the Glowworm Wooden Hairpin revealed in Pei Zhouwu’s palm, a wave of pity washed over him. How was this any different from the pain he himself endured, sleeping with a memorial tablet every night?

Yet some words, once spoken, risked overstepping the bounds of their shallow acquaintance.

After weighing his thoughts for a long time, he finally only uttered the words “Take care,” then turned and left the room.

He stood in the courtyard for a while, his attention drawn to the pool of water behind the bedroom. His feet unconsciously carried him toward it.

The surface of the pool was calm and unrippled, steaming with heat under the scorching sun.

Staring at his own reflection in the water, for some reason, Liu Fuying suddenly came to mind again. The reflection in the water seemed to transform into her likeness through some illusion. The longer he stared, the more he felt as if Liu Fuying might emerge from the water at any moment.

The water’s surface remained tranquil, yet his own heart was stirred into turbulent waves.

He shook his head, wondering why Liu Fuying had inexplicably crossed his mind. It was as if she had once been to this deep pool, leaving traces of her presence behind.

But that was laughable. With the high mountains and heavy security, how could Liu Fuying possibly have entered here?

With that thought, he turned and left without looking back.

Liu Fuying had just woken from her afternoon nap. Glancing at the slanting sun outside the window, she realized with a start that she had slept until sunset.

There was a knock at the door, and Jin Li promptly pushed it open and entered.

“Madam, guess what I just heard?” Jin Li’s astonished and fearful expression told Liu Fuying she had learned something significant.

Liu Fuying smoothed the hair that had fallen across her chest, instinctively thinking of Pei Zhouwu.

“Is there bad news from Xiangshan?”

“Yes, but also no. Madam, do you know who was sent to Xiangshan by imperial decree?”

“Who?” Liu Fuying felt a twinge of nervousness.

“It’s the General, our own General Shen!”

“…”

Liu Fuying held her breath for a moment, even forgetting to blink.

But soon, a smile spread across her face, and she chuckled softly.

“Madam?”

“Interesting, truly interesting.” Liu Fuying’s smile grew even brighter. She grabbed Jin Li’s hand and eagerly asked, “Earlier, I asked if there was bad news from Xiangshan, and you said yes and no. Does that mean the bad news refers to Shen Xiunian, while Pei Zhouwu brings good news?”

Liu Fuying’s beaming face left Jin Li somewhat flustered.

“Yes, yes. It seems they say our General has clarified that it was the deceased guard who intended revenge, so he drugged Marquis Pei, causing his severe injury. Marquis Pei killing him was self-defense, a counterattack, not an act of treason.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Fuying laughed joyfully again.

“Madam, please stop laughing. It frightens me.”

“Fear what? Isn’t it amusing? My own husband personally rescued the lover I took outside our marriage—the one who cuckolded him. Isn’t that just fascinating?”

“… The more you say, the more scared I get, Madam. What if this comes to light?”

“Comes to light? What can he do? It was his own suggestion that I go find a man outside.”

“Madam…”

“Enough of that. Did you prepare the things I asked you to buy?”

Jin Li set down the bundle in her hands. It was filled entirely with medicinal supplies for wounds, intended for Pei Zhouwu.

“The carriage and horses are ready too. As you instructed, we won’t have a coachman this time; we’ll drive ourselves. But I don’t know how to drive a carriage! Those mountain roads are winding and rugged. I’m scared.”

Liu Fuying planned to leave the city again, and she wouldn’t be returning tonight.

This time, she left the city for personal matters, not to offer incense at Changmingguan, so it was best not to draw too much attention.

“For a more comfortable life in the future, we must endure the difficulties of the present.”

Liu Fuying stepped out wearing a veil. Her sleek, dark hair could not conceal the graceful curve of her figure. When others noticed her, they merely speculated that she might be an outsider who had come to Shangjing in search of relatives.