Chapter 28: Deep Kiss

Jin Li truly wasn’t very skilled at driving a carriage.

On the flat city roads it was manageable, but once they took the mountain path outside, the wheels kept hitting stones on the road, startling her into screams each time.

At one point, they nearly careened off the mountain path.

Liu Fuying took over the reins, and the two of them pulled together, their palms rubbed raw.

By the time they reached the mountain lake, it was already dark.

“Madam, don’t worry. I’ll sleep in the carriage outside tonight. This is Xiangshan, and Changmingguan is right up there. This place is blessed by the true immortals and bodhisattvas. I’m not afraid.”

Whether she was afraid or not, Liu Fuying knew in her heart.

As she had said before, even if it was just for Jin Li, she would give it her all.

She entered the water, swam through the long passageway, and arrived at the deep pool by the bamboo house.

From a distance, she could see candlelight glowing in Pei Zhouwu’s bedroom, but there was no one outside.

After cautiously climbing ashore and circling around to the back of the bedroom, she heard voices inside—and one of them was a woman’s.

Liu Fuying stood still, holding her breath.

“I know you’ve been wronged, but in our current situation, who isn’t suffering? Isn’t your father suffering? Am I not suffering? And what about your sister? But…”

The speaker paused, and when she spoke again, her words grew increasingly cutting.

Liu Fuying could tell that the speaker was likely Pei Zhouwu’s mother.

“But our family can no longer withstand any more turmoil. We cannot afford any more trouble. Your sister risked her life to plead for you today—she fainted from kneeling and had to be carried back. The Crown Prince has been crying nonstop, and I heard even the Emperor is annoyed by it.”

“A’Zhou, do you understand what I mean?”

Mother Pei waited for a long while but received no response from Pei Zhouwu. Angered, her words grew sharper.

“You cannot disregard the honor and disgrace of the entire family. The future of the Pei family depends entirely on your sister and the Crown Prince. Only if they are well can the Pei family remain secure. You are my own flesh and blood, the child I am most proud of. How could I not care for you? If there were any way at all, your father and I would do everything in our power to rescue you. But… but our family is not an ordinary one, after all.”

“Your sister is the Empress, the mother of the nation. Your little nephew is the Crown Prince, the future ruler. You…”

“I know.” Pei Zhouwu finally spoke.

Perhaps he could no longer bear to listen. Even Liu Fuying, standing outside, trembled at Mother Pei’s words.

Although Mother Pei did not say it explicitly, the general meaning was nothing more than urging Pei Zhouwu to behave himself, not to cause trouble, and to endure any wrongs or humiliations without resistance or retaliation.

In short, her words, both overt and implied, were all accusations against Pei Zhouwu for defending himself and killing someone the previous night.

But it was precisely for the sake of the Pei family, for his sister and the Crown Prince, that Pei Zhouwu had knowingly chosen not to escape when he had the chance, preferring to remain imprisoned here alone. How much more compliant did they expect him to be?

“You don’t understand. If you did, then…”

“It is not without a solution.” Pei Zhouwu’s tone was cold as he interrupted Mother Pei once more.

“What did you say?”

“I said this matter is not without a solution. As long as you disown me from the Pei family, I will no longer be a member of the Pei clan, and I will no longer bring trouble to the family or my sister.”

“Pei Zhouwu!”

“I am tired. Please leave.”

“A’Zhou, you just need to endure patiently for a while. It won’t be forever. Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, you…”

“I am exhausted. I will not see you out.”

“Fine, fine. Since you won’t listen to a single word I say, then you’re on your own.”

Soon after, the sound of a door slamming shut echoed through the air.

Liu Fuying let out a heavy sigh, calming her emotions. After waiting quietly for a long while, she finally made her way to the front door and cautiously pushed it open.

Pei Zhouwu seemed to have known she was coming long before, showing no surprise when he saw her.

He stood before the bed. Even though Mother Pei had left long ago, he remained motionless, clearly still reeling from the earlier confrontation.

Though his expression gave nothing away, his heart must have been in agony.

This was the perfect opportunity for Liu Fuying to make her move.

Wasn’t this how those pitiful, vulnerable girls were deceived by certain despicable men? Appearing like a ray of light in their darkest moments, offering comfort and help, making them fall deeper in love, obediently doing whatever was asked of them.

Liu Fuying suppressed her sympathy and hid her excitement.

Turning back, she closed the door and slowly walked toward him. His lifeless eyes were fixed on her, yet they held no spark of light.

“I… I was worried about you, so I brought medicine to see you.”

She spoke cautiously, as if afraid that saying the wrong thing might hurt him.

“Have… have you eaten? I also brought some food.”

As she spoke, she took off the bundle she had been carrying.

Besides medicine, she had also asked Jin Li to buy some food, each item carefully wrapped in oiled paper to ensure it wouldn’t get soggy.

As she spread out the bundle and was about to tear open the oiled paper, Pei Zhouwu suddenly spoke.

“You should leave too,” he said.

These four short words seemed to drain all his strength, leaving him nearly exhausted after uttering them.

Liu Fuying paused for only a moment before continuing with her actions as if nothing had happened.

“I see you’ve already changed your clothes, so I suppose… your wounds must have been treated as well. I was worried that if you kept bleeding, it could be fatal. Seeing you like this now, I feel much more at ease.”

She laid out the food she had brought, one item at a time, continuing her warm, chattering words.

“Since your wounds have been treated, you should eat something. With strength, wounds heal faster. Look at this crispy meat pie—it was bought from the Shixian Shop in the southern part of the city. Their food is quite famous in Shangjing. You must know about it too.”

After gently touching the meat pie, she revealed a pleasant surprise.

“It’s still a little warm! You should eat it while it’s hot. Once it cools, the flavor won’t be as good.”

“Su Yueying.”

“Let me feed you.”

Liu Fuying moved toward him, but he stopped her halfway.

“I told you to leave!”

His face was cold, his expression stiff, and his eyes carried a deliberately displayed fierceness.

But his eyes were already red-rimmed, which somewhat diminished his imposing demeanor.

Though his words were meant to drive her away, Liu Fuying could still read the hidden meaning in his eyes.

He was clearly saying, “Don’t go.”

Don’t leave, don’t abandon me alone.

I’m lying, I’m putting on a brave face. In truth, I need someone to stay with me, to comfort me, to care for me.

…

“I won’t leave.”

Liu Fuying continued to approach him step by step, looking gently into his eyes.

“I told you, even if everyone in this world abandons you, I won’t. As long as you need me, I’ll always be by your side.”

Her words were so gentle, yet so powerful.

Word by word, they fell precisely upon his heart, cracking open the hardened shell he had built, gradually revealing the softness within.

He could no longer hold on, staggering before collapsing onto the bed.

“No one can stay with anyone forever, no one.” Pei Zhouwu was still trying to conceal his disheveled state.

His drooping eyelids hung weakly, and for a moment, he failed to notice the figure drawing closer before him.

By the time he widened his eyes in shock, Liu Fuying’s soft lips had already pressed deeply against his.